Welcome to Derry: First-look, Release date, Teaser Trailer, cast, & Everything we know About the ‘It’ Prequel Series

The terrifying legacy of Stephen King's It continues to haunt audiences with the much-anticipated prequel series, Welcome to Derry. Building on the chilling tales introduced in the 2017 and 2019 films directed by Andy Muschietti, this new show promises to delve deep into the origins of Pennywise the Clown, the malevolent entity that terrorizes the town of Derry, Maine, every 27 years. 

Recently, HBO has provided glimpses into It: Welcome to Derry, confirming that Bill Skarsgård will reprise his role as Pennywise, bringing the iconic character back to life in a new, chilling narrative. 

This article will uncover everything we know about It Chapter 3: Welcome to Derry, including its plot, cast, and production updates. Stay tuned, as we’ll keep updating this piece with the latest news and developments to ensure you don't miss a moment of the horror that awaits!

Release date & Where to Watch

Originally set to premiere in October 2024, the series faced delays due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. As a result, HBO has rescheduled its release to 2025. 

The show, which aims to build on the success of the It movies—together grossing over $1.17 billion worldwide—will consist of nine episodes and will stream as an HBO Original on Max. 

Plot

Very little has been revealed about the plot of Welcome to Derry, but the HBO series will present a completely original story, as Stephen King never wrote a prequel to It. The show is set in the 1960s and will explore Pennywise's origin story, shedding light on how the sinister clown came to terrorize the town of Derry. This prequel will delve into Pennywise's impact on the town and its residents, offering insight into the evil entity's dark beginnings.

The series marks a return to the It universe, with Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise, promising to bring the same level of horror that captivated audiences in the 2017 and 2019 films. He will also serve as an executive producer alongside Andy Muschietti, who directed the It films, and his sister, Barbara Muschietti. Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane are co-showrunners, with production having started in March 2022.

While original characters like the Losers Club are not expected to appear, the series will offer a deep dive into Stephen King's mythology, exploring Pennywise's evil presence long before the events of the It movies. 

The creative team, including the Muschietti siblings and Fuchs, expressed their excitement about bringing the darker, unexplored aspects of King's novel to life, promising a story filled with heart, humor, humanity, and horror.

Cast

Welcome to Derry.

Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, James Remar, and Chris Chalk have been cast to star in the Max Original Series and prequel to the IT films, coming in 2024 to Max. #WelcomeToDerry #ITSeries #ITMovie 🎈 #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/wnX3YTIB21

— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 12, 2023

• Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Dancing Clown
• Alixandra Fuchs
• Kimberly Guerrero
• Dorian Grey
• Thomas Mitchell
• BJ Harrison
• Peter Outerbridge
• Shane Marriott
• Chad Rook
• Joshua Odjick
• Morningstar Angeline

• Jovan Adepo (The Leftovers)
• Chris Chalk (Perry Mason)
• Taylour Paige (Zola)
• James Remar (Black Lightning)
• Stephen Rider (Daredevil)
• Madeleine Stowe (Revenge)
• Rudy Mancuso (Música)

Official Trailer

In August 2024, HBO released a teaser trailer that included a brief glimpse of Welcome to Derry's upcoming debut season. While the teaser reveals little, it effectively showcases the gruesome storytelling and pervasive dread that will define the Stephen King series.

A promo was also released hinting at the danger the gang is about to be in. In the short promo someone asks, "What did you see," and the response is, "A Clown." This is followed by a shot of a woman creepily smiling behind a glass wall. Check out the video here:

Where is It Chapter 3: Welcome to Derry Filmed?

Production for the series began in 2023 across various locations in Canada, including Toronto and Port Hope. Although filming was briefly halted during the summer of 2023 due to the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild of America strikes in Hollywood, it resumed in the fall. 

Recently, Stephen King shared on his Instagram story that filming is officially completed after 237 shoot days. Check out the story below.

Behind the Scenes

The creative team behind the It movies is reuniting for Welcome to Derry. Andy Muschietti will direct four of the nine episodes and serve as an executive producer alongside his sister, Barbara Muschietti. The story is based on ideas from Andy, Barbara, and Jason Fuchs, who also penned the teleplay for the first episode and will show run with Brad Caleb Kane. Producers Roy Lee and Dan Lin are also joining the project.