HBO has officially unveiled the chilling first teaser for IT: Welcome to Derry, the spine-tingling prequel to the hit films IT and IT Chapter Two. Based on the terrifying world created by Stephen King, the new series arrives this fall and will stream exclusively on HBO and Max. Fans of the infamous Pennywise the Dancing Clown can expect a deeper, darker dive into the cursed history of Derry, Maine.
The teaser wastes no time setting the tone—dripping in dread, mystery, and flashes of red balloons that horror aficionados will instantly recognize. While the footage keeps major plot details close to the chest, it offers enough atmospheric dread and visual nods to the source material to stir anticipation among longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Developed for television by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, Welcome to Derry expands the cinematic world that began with the box office-smashing adaptations of King’s novel. Andy Muschietti, who directed both IT films as well as The Flash, is also set to helm multiple episodes of the series, ensuring tonal continuity with the beloved (and feared) film versions.
The series features a standout cast including Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Rudy Mancuso, and the return of Bill Skarsgård as the sinister Pennywise. Skarsgård’s portrayal of the shapeshifting horror icon became a cultural phenomenon in the late 2010s—and his involvement here raises expectations sky-high.
According to HBO’s official logline, IT: Welcome to Derry is “based on King’s IT novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films.” That means the series may explore the origins of Derry’s cursed past—possibly even revealing how Pennywise first came to haunt the town.
Produced by HBO and Warner Bros. Television, the series boasts an impressive lineup of executive producers, including the Muschiettis, Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane, Bill Skarsgård, and more. Fuchs, who wrote the teleplay for the first episode, will also serve as co-showrunner alongside Kane.
With a release window set for this fall, the return to Derry is shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated horror events. Expect unsettling nostalgia, creeping dread, and the kind of psychological terror only Stephen King’s universe can provide.
Stay tuned for more updates, episode breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes insights as the fall premiere of Welcome to Derry creeps closer.