Pennywise is set to return beneath the sewers of Derry in the new HBO Max series, IT: Welcome to Derry, reigniting the terror fans know from Stephen King‘s novel. The series revisits the haunting past of the infamous town, expanding on the original story in fresh ways starting Sunday, October 26.
Origins of IT: Welcome to Derry and Its Connection to Stephen King’s Novel
IT: Welcome to Derry draws directly from Stephen King’s IT universe, building upon both the novel and the previous feature films directed by Andy Muschietti. According to the official HBO Max synopsis, the series takes inspiration from King’s novel while extending the world first depicted on screen in IT and IT Chapter Two.
Executive producer Andy Muschietti explained in a translated interview that the series is based on the interludes found in King’s book, which focus on the research of Mike Hanlon, the sole member of the Losers’ Club who remains in Derry after their initial battle with Pennywise. These interludes serve as fragmented diary entries, charting the dark history of the town as Mike pieces together the mysteries behind the recurring evil.
It’s a story that’s based on the interludes of the book,
Muschietti said.
The interludes are basically chapters that reflect Mike Hanlon’s research. They’re fragments of his research. For 27 years, it’s the guy trying to figure out what it is, what did it, who did it, who saw it, and all that stuff.
These chapters highlight catastrophic events in Derry, such as the devastating fire at the Black Spot, the 1930s massacre of the Bradley Gang—a group of bank robbers—and the explosion of the Kitchener Ironworks.
So they talk about catastrophic events from the past, like the fire in the Black Spot… the massacre of the Bradley Gang, a gang of bank robbers in the ’30s… and the explosion of the Kitchener Ironworks,
Muschietti added.
The new series aims to dramatize these grim episodes in Derry’s history that coincide with Pennywise’s cycles of awakening and terrorizing the town.
How IT: Welcome to Derry Ties Into the Existing IT Films
The timeline of IT: Welcome to Derry differs from that of the prior movies, which updated the original novel’s setting from the late 1950s to the 1980s. The upcoming series is set in 1962, placing it directly before the events portrayed in the first IT film. This shift pushes the narrative timeline of Muschietti’s IT universe one decade back.
According to Muschietti, the series will span three seasons, each delving further into Derry’s past. The stories will explore the historic cycles of Pennywise’s terror, anchored by real events from the town’s darkest moments. For instance, one cycle includes the mass killing of the Bradley Gang in the 1930s and the fire that engulfed the Black Spot, while another centers on the catastrophic Ironworks explosion.
This historical exploration promises a deeper understanding of Pennywise’s influence over the years and the town’s persistent suffering under his reign.
Premiere and Viewing Details for IT: Welcome to Derry
IT: Welcome to Derry premieres on Sunday, October 26, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, with new episodes becoming available weekly on HBO Max. The series invites both longtime fans of Stephen King and newcomers to experience a fresh narrative that sheds light on the sinister legacy beneath the town’s surface.
As the show unfolds, viewers can expect to encounter new characters, including a group of young protagonists teaming up to confront Pennywise, portrayed once again by Bill Skarsgård. By exploring the interwoven histories and harrowing past catastrophes of Derry, the series seeks to enrich the IT universe with added layers of complexity and suspense.
