It: Welcome to Derry - Release window, plot, and more about HBO horrifying prequel series

The red balloons are back, and so is the terror lurking beneath Derry’s surface. In It: Welcome to Derry, an HBO original series, we are invited to enter the eerie town of Stephen King and see where the horrible evil that haunts it began. This prequel takes place decades before Pennywise's reing of terror as portrayed in the movies. The series is supposed to investigate the origins of fear, both supernatural and troublingly human.

With its chilling premise, a stellar cast, and the creative team behind the It films at the helm, It: Welcome to Derry is set to be a spine-tingling addition to Pennywise's horror universe. But when can we expect the show to air? What horrors are hiding in its plot? And how does it plan to expand Pennywise’s nightmare-fueled mythology? Let’s take a closer look.

“I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara. Red balloons all around!” — Stephen King

Release window: The countdown to terror

The balloons may rise a little later than expected. Due to industry-wide strikes, It: Welcome to Derry was delayed from its original 2024 launch. Nevertheless, filming has resumed and the series is expected to premiere on HBO and Max in 2025. It may be agonizing to wait, but not for Pennywise. He thrives on anticipation. The series has nine episodes set in stone, so viewers will have plenty of time to get nervous about what's to come. Nightmares don't merely arrive in Derry; they linger.

The episodic format allows the show to gradually increase the tension, in contrast to the movies that had to compress the tale into tight narratives. A red balloon drifting slowly down a foggy street is a good analogy. For fans, this promises a more intimate descent into madness.

Plot: Where nightmares begin

Set 27 years before the events of It, in 1962, the prequel plunges into the dark history of Derry, Maine. This is a town already poisoned by secrets. The series is expected to explore real-world horrors like the infamous Black Spot nightclub fire, a racially charged tragedy that foreshadows Pennywise’s cyclical terror.

But the deeper mystery lies in what—or who—was pulling the strings even before the clown took center stage. With fresh characters and untold stories, It: Welcome to Derry has the freedom to expand King’s mythology and explore how the town itself became a breeding ground for fear. Is Pennywise the only monster hiding in Derry? Or is he just the sharp-toothed tip of a much darker iceberg?

Speculation is already swirling about whether the show will introduce entirely new horrors—or even hint at other ancient evils lurking beneath the surface. King’s works are filled with interconnected universes, and Derry has always been one of his most cursed locations. Could Welcome to Derry expand the mythology to tie Pennywise to something even more ancient and sinister?

The cast: New victims, same nightmare

It: Welcome to Derry features a hauntingly talented cast, including Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, and James Remar. No one knows what roles they will play in the series, but they certainly will add their own unique energy to the ensemble. Whether they resist or succumb to the evil forces is anyone's guess.

And then, of course, there’s Pennywise. Returning to the role that made him a horror star, Bill Skarsgård plays the devil clown once more. Skarsgård has already hinted at exploring new dimensions of the character, teasing:

“We explored things that we haven’t explored in the movies.” If that’s not enough to make you double-check the shadows, nothing will.

Human monsters can have a role in the show, even if Pennywise's origins are the main focus. The new cast might mirror Derry's reputation as an attraction for crooked and vicious people. There will be victims with mixed morals, characters with complex motivations, and maybe even flashes back to tragedies that happened before the Losers' Club banded together to fight the clown.

“As teenagers, we took turns reading chapters of Stephen King’s ‘IT’ until the thick paperback fell to pieces. ‘IT’ is an epic story that contains multitudes, far beyond what we could explore in our ‘IT’ movies. We can’t wait to share the depths of Steve's novel, in all its heart, humor, humanity and horror.” — Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti

Behind the curtain: Building Derry’s nightmare

Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the minds behind the It films, are back to direct this prequel. The series promises to maintain the unnerving tone and visual style of the flicks with Andy directing many episodes and Jason Fuchs co-writing. Production on Greetings from Fairview began in May 2023, but SAG-AFTRA strikes halted it. The show is in post-production to perfect the scares for its 2025 release after wrapping in August 2024.

Episodes allow the Muschiettis to explore by building dread incrementally rather than lunging at viewers all at once. If the It films were a rollercoaster, Welcome to Derry is shaping up to be a haunted maze—you can feel the fear closing in, but there’s no easy way out.

“We are thrilled to continue this iconic franchise with the brilliant Andy and Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs, and Brad Caleb Kane. This prequel will expand the IT storytelling canvas and bring fans deeper into the terrifying, mesmerizing town of Derry.” — Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max

Origins of fear: Pennywise and the rot beneath Derry

Beneath Derry’s quaint streets lies something ancient—and It: Welcome to Derry intends to show us exactly how deep the rot goes. Pennywise may be the embodiment of terror, but the town as a whole could be far scarier.

Derry is a place where monsters, real and imagined, thrive due to its history of bigotry, brutality, and cover-ups. The fact that the Black Spot fire is a major plot point implies that the program will not hesitate to go into the ways in which Pennywise's power is fueled by trauma and anger.

This isn’t just a story about a clown in the sewers; it’s about the cracks in society that let monsters thrive. By turning Derry into a character as twisted as Pennywise, the series has the chance to deliver a horror story that’s as thought-provoking as it is terrifying.

Horror reborn: What sets Welcome to Derry apart

Unlike the It films, which relied on cinematic bursts of terror, It: Welcome to Derry has time to let its horrors simmer. The episodic structure allows for slower builds, deeper mysteries, and more intricate character arcs.

The show explores different storylines by diverting attention from the Losers' Club. New personalities bring new viewpoints on Pennywise's horrific mythos, as well as new victims and, maybe, heroes.

The key to the show's success is how well it combines old and new elements. Fans of the movies should expect the same heart-pounding terrors in the prequel; others who have never watched the movies could be tempted by the promise of exploring the rich legacy and psychological horror of the flicks.

Step into the shadows — Derry is calling

The show promises to be more than a prelude with Pennywise sharpening his teeth, a gifted ensemble poised to untangle Derry's secrets, and the Muschiettis arranging the anarchy. This is a fresh dream shrouded in nostalgia meant to remind us that evil simply sleeps; it never really dies.

Thus, make notes on the sewers, mark your calendars, and bear in mind that Pennywise always returns. The only question is: are you ready to face him?