HBO Max has released the first trailer for Welcome to Derry, a prequel series to IT that explores the haunted origins of Stephen King’s cursed town. Set in 1962, the series takes place nearly three decades before the Losers’ Club faces Pennywise in the events of the original story. This new chapter digs into the roots of fear that have long gripped Derry, Maine.
The trailer delivers classic King terror. We see quiet neighborhoods disrupted by whispers of missing children, red balloons drifting through the air, and unnerving smiles from townspeople who seem to know more than they are willing to admit. At the very end, fans get a chilling tease of Bill Skarsgård’s return as Pennywise, lurking in the shadows with his signature grin.
Created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the nine-episode series expands on the tone and world of the recent IT films. The story follows a group of high school students uncovering a growing evil that adults refuse to acknowledge. It reflects many of the core themes from King’s work, including childhood fear, trauma, and the power of belief.
What sets Welcome to Derry apart is its historical context. Set during the Cold War, the series uses that era’s anxiety to explore how fear becomes a weapon. This mirrors Pennywise’s own use of fear to manipulate and destroy. The series also draws inspiration from the novel’s “interludes”—sections where Mike Hanlon records oral histories from Derry’s older residents. These stories provide deeper insight into the town’s dark legacy and are finally getting the spotlight.
One of those historical events is the Black Spot, a tragedy rooted in racial violence. By including these events, the show aims to blend supernatural horror with the real social fears of the time. This makes the horror feel more grounded while still tapping into the timeless dread that defines the IT mythos.
With a planned release in fall 2025, Welcome to Derry looks like a bold expansion of the IT universe and a return to the raw fear that made the original story unforgettable.
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