Welcome to Derry Confirmed as Prequel, Will Uncover Pennywise Origins

HBO’s upcoming series, It: Welcome to Derry, is officially a prequel to the popular films. The show is scheduled to premiere in 2025. It will explore the terrifying history of the town of Derry. The story will also reveal the ancient origins of the entity known as Pennywise.

The project is executive produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who directed the two recent films. According to HBO, the series will delve deep into the town’s dark past. This will provide context for the events that haunted the Losers’ Club decades later.

Series Timeline Moves Backward Through Derry’s Dark History

The narrative structure for Welcome to Derry is uniquely ambitious. The plan is for the story to unfold across three seasons. Each season will be set in a different, earlier time period. This approach will progressively reveal how the curse of Pennywise began.

The first season is set in 1962, a few years before the events of the first film. Season two will jump back to 1935. The final season aims to explore the earliest known terror in 1908. This backward chronology is designed to methodically uncover the source of Derry’s nightmare.

Expanding Stephen King’s Universe for a New Generation

This series aims to build upon the world established in Stephen King’s classic novel. It will introduce new characters and untold stories from Derry’s past. The goal is to enrich the mythology while staying true to the source material. This expansion provides a fresh perspective on the enduring horror.

For fans, this means a deeper understanding of Pennywise’s cyclical reign of terror. The series will show previous encounters with the creature. It will also highlight the town’s tragic history of violence and disappearance. This context makes the Losers’ Club’s eventual battle even more significant.

The confirmation of It: Welcome to Derry as a direct prequel solidifies its place in the expanding Stephen King screen universe. This series promises to answer long-standing questions about the clown’s origins. Audiences should prepare for a deeper descent into the darkness of Derry.

Thought you’d like to know

When will It: Welcome to Derry be released?

HBO has announced a 2025 release window for the series. An exact premiere date has not yet been confirmed. Production is moving forward to meet that target.

Who is starring in the Welcome to Derry series?

The cast includes Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, and Chris Chalk in leading roles. The actor playing the young Pennywise has not been officially announced. The original film’s producers are heavily involved.

Is the series connected to the It movies from 2017 and 2019?

Yes, it is a direct prequel to those two films. It exists within the same continuity and canon. The series will explore events that happened long before the Losers’ Club were born.

Will Bill Skarsgård return as Pennywise?

Bill Skarsgård is confirmed to reprise his role as the terrifying entity. He will also serve as an executive producer on the series. His involvement ensures a consistent vision for the character.

Why is the story moving backward in time?

The producers stated this structure allows them to build mystery progressively. Starting closer to the films’ era helps bridge the narrative. Each season will reveal a deeper layer of the origin story.