Pennywise Returns: New Trailer Offers Fresh Look at ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Prequel Series
HBO has released a new trailer for It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel series that takes fans back in time to explore the dark history of Derry, Maine, and the origins of Pennywise the Clown. The show will premiere on October 26 and will include nine episodes in its first season.
The series is set in the 1960s, long before the events of the 2017 and 2019 It films. It was created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, who were all involved in the movies. Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise and is also serving as an executive producer.
The main cast includes Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, and Stephen Rider. Recurring roles feature Madeleine Stowe, Dean Yool, and Rudy Mancuso, among others.
Andy Muschietti told Radio TU that the show draws inspiration from the interlude chapters of Stephen King’s novel It. He explained that the story will unfold backward across three seasons. “There’s a reason why the story is told backwards,” he said. The first season takes place in 1962, with future seasons set in 1935 and 1908.
You were never meant to leave.#ITWelcomeToDerry premieres October 26 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/XA6RJsyi3w
— HBO Max (@hbomax) September 23, 2025
Filming started in May 2023 at locations across Ontario, including Toronto, Hamilton, and Port Hope. Some scenes were filmed at Delta Secondary School. The series used the working title Greetings from Fairview during production.
Shooting finished in August 2024, after a brief pause caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Andy Muschietti directed the first four episodes, and Benjamin Wallfisch, who scored the It films, is returning to compose the music for the series.
The new trailer offers a first look at this prequel, revealing a darker version of Derry and introducing new characters while bringing back the terrifying Pennywise. Fans can expect unsettling visuals and eerie moments that build a tense atmosphere, showing that the series will dive into the sinister undercurrent of the town.
It: Welcome to Derry promises to expand the It universe with fresh stories, new faces, and the chilling presence of Pennywise. Horror fans have plenty to look forward to this October.
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