Pennywise is back and the nightmare begins sooner than you think! Warner Bros. Television has unveiled the official trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry, the highly anticipated prequel series to Andy Muschietti’s blockbuster films IT (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019). The series will premiere on HBO Max on Sunday, October 26th, 2025, just in time to amplify spooky season.
Set in 1962, IT: Welcome to Derry dives deep into the unsettling story of Stephen King’s iconic 1986 novel. Drawing inspiration from the book’s interludes, the series promises to explore how the haunting cycle of fear began in the cursed town of Derry, Maine.
The trailer marks the spine-chilling return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Clown, solidifying the character’s place as one of horror’s most enduring villains. Fans of the films will notice plenty of nods, including the ominous site where the Paul Bunyan statue will later stand. Spotlighted as a reminder of how history in Derry is always doomed to repeat itself.
The cast is stacked with talent, including Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso. Behind the camera, the creative team reunites with Andy Muschietti directing multiple episodes and developing the series alongside Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. Fuchs co-showruns with Caleb Kane, ensuring continuity with the terrifying tone of the films.
HBO confirms the series will run for eight episodes, airing weekly through December 14th, 2025. With the Muschiettis’ distinct cinematic vision and King’s source material as its backbone, IT: Welcome to Derry is shaping up to be one of the most chilling and atmospheric shows of the year. As the trailer teases, evil never dies in Derry. In fact, it only hides, waiting to feed again.