[Trailer] Pennywise Returns Check Out a New Look at ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Prequel Series
The terrifying world of It is coming back, and this time it’s heading deeper into the past. HBO has just dropped a new trailer for It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel series based on Stephen King’s famous 1986 horror novel It. The show is set to premiere on October 26, with nine episodes.
This new series will explore the origins of Pennywise the Clown and the dark history of the town of Derry.
The story is set in the 1960s, long before the events of the 2017 and 2019 It films. The series was created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, all of whom also worked on the movies.
You were never meant to leave.#ITWelcomeToDerry premieres October 26 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/XA6RJsyi3w
— HBO Max (@hbomax) September 23, 2025
The cast features Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, and Stephen Rider. Bill Skarsgård is back in his chilling role as Pennywise, and he’s also helping produce the show. Other recurring cast members include Madeleine Stowe, Dean Yool, Rudy Mancuso, and more.
In an interview with Radio TU in January, Andy Muschietti shared that the show is inspired by the interlude chapters from the original novel. He also revealed that the story will move backwards through time across three planned seasons. “There’s a reason why the story is told backwards,” he said. The first season is set in 1962, with later seasons planned for 1935 and 1908.
Filming began in May 2023 across various locations in Ontario, including Toronto, Hamilton, and Port Hope. Scenes were even shot at Delta Secondary School. The series filmed under the title Greetings from Fairview. Production wrapped in August 2024 after a short delay due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Andy Muschietti directed the first four episodes of the show, and the score will be done by Benjamin Wallfisch, who also composed the music for the two It films. News about Wallfisch’s return came in May.
The trailer, released by HBO, teases a much darker and more mysterious Derry than fans have seen before. It offers glimpses of eerie streets, new characters, and of course, the horrifying return of Pennywise. With creepy visuals and unsettling moments, the trailer sets the tone for what looks like another nightmare-inducing chapter in the It universe.
It: Welcome to Derry is expected to dive deep into the evil that lives beneath the surface of the small town. With new characters, fresh stories, and the return of a fan-favorite villain, horror fans have something truly sinister to look forward to this October.
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