The scariest monster in Derry isn’t just the clown.
When a group of social outcasts in 1960s Maine hears a missing boy’s voice whispering from the sewer grates, you might think you know where this story is headed. It: Welcome to Derry, HBO’s new prequel series to the blockbuster It films, masterfully plays with those expectations, weaving a tale that is as much about the horror of human prejudice as it is about a supernatural, child-eating entity.
Premiering on October 26, 2025, the series returns to the cursed town of Derry, but this time, it’s 1962. The show, co-developed by Andy Muschietti, who directed the two feature films, expands the mythology of Stephen King’s universe, offering a “worthy prequel series that not only details the emergence of Pennywise, but also turns a lens on society to showcase how truly horrifying we can be as human beings” .
What Is ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ About?
Set 27 years before the events of the 2017 film, It: Welcome to Derry opens with the disappearance of a young boy in January 1962 . Four months later, the town of Derry is trying to move on, but the eerie calm is shattered for a group of teenagers.
The series follows two main, interconnected stories. The first centers on a band of misfit kids—including Lilly, a girl traumatized by her father’s gruesome death; Ronnie, a Black girl facing relentless racism; and their friends Phil and Teddy—who band together to investigate the boy’s disappearance . They soon realize they are being tormented by malevolent visions.
The second narrative follows Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), a Black Air Force officer who arrives at the Derry airbase with his family . He quickly discovers that his new post involves a mysterious and deeply classified military operation that encroaches on sacred Indigenous grounds and appears to be connected to the ancient evil lurking beneath the town . Their paths converge as the true, horrifying history of Derry and the entity known as Pennywise begins to surface.
A Deeper, Darker Dive into the IT Universe
This series sets itself apart from the films by delving into themes that resonate strongly with modern audiences. The show is “set in the past, but its themes have never echoed louder today” . It thoughtfully explores the “horrors of the Jim Crow South” and the injustices faced by Black and Indigenous residents of Derry, using the supernatural evil as a potent metaphor for the real-world evils of racism and systemic oppression .
The series also impressively raises the stakes. While the films followed the well-known fate of the Losers Club, this prequel introduces a new cast of characters where “no kid or adult is safe” . This creates a genuine and unsettling sense of unpredictability.
For Stephen King fans, the series is packed with rewarding connections. The show is filled with “plenty of Easter eggs,” including the appearance of a young Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk)—the psychic cook from The Shining—and a focus on the Hanlon family, directly linking to Mike Hanlon from the original story . It “deepens the mythology of King’s novel” by exploring the Indigenous origins of the entity and weaving in elements from the book’s rich history of Derry .
How Does It Compare?
| Aspect | The It Films (2017, 2019) | It: Welcome to Derry (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | The Losers Club vs. Pennywise | The origins of Derry’s evil & a new ensemble |
| Themes | Childhood friendship, facing fears | Systemic racism, trauma, Cold War paranoia |
| Horror Style | Dread-drenched tension, charismatic kids | “Precision-tooled prestige horror,” social commentary |
| Pennywise’s Role | Central antagonist | Used “extremely sparingly” in early episodes |
| Scope | Contained character story | Expanded lore, “macroscopic” societal fears |
A Mixed Bag of Terror and Storytelling
The critical reception to Welcome to Derry has been largely positive, though not without its caveats.
On the positive side, many critics have praised the series for its ambitious scope and effective scares. Aramide Tinubu of Variety called the series “a masterfully woven and terrifying tale,” highlighting the “emotional depth” of the young cast . The horror is unflinching; from its opening sequence—a “car ride from hell” involving “liver-eating demons” and a “mutant baby”—the series makes it clear that it “isn’t pulling any punches” . Some have even called it “far more disturbing than anything in either It films” .
However, the series faces some of the classic challenges of prequels. Some critics feel it can be “a little too hellbent on explaining every single mystery,” answering questions that no one was asking . The narrative, which jumps between the kids’ investigation, the military conspiracy, and flashbacks, is at times a point of contention. While some find it “masterfully woven,” others argue that the show “doesn’t successfully bring all its disparate narratives together” .
A key point for fans: Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise does return, but he is used “extremely sparingly” in the first five episodes provided for review . When he appears, Skarsgård “continues to demonstrate why his Pennywise is a modern horror icon,” but audiences should not expect him to be the central focus of every episode .
Standout Performances in a Cursed Town
The strength of the series lies in its cast.
- The Young Actors: It “cannot be overstated how outstanding the younger cast is,” and they are the emotional core of the story . Clara Stack, who plays the determined and grief-stricken Lilly, is repeatedly mentioned as a standout, delivering a performance of remarkable depth .
- The Adult Cast: Jovan Adepo as Major Hanlon is hailed as a compelling lead, with one reviewer noting his storyline is “one of the biggest reasons why I was invested” . The supporting adult cast, including Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann, is also “across-the-board excellent” .
FAQs: Your Questions Answered
Is ‘Welcome to Derry’ scary?
Yes, the series features intense, gory, and psychologically unsettling horror. Critics describe it as “knuckle-gnawing, hair-raisingly scary,” with some of the most disturbing sequences seen on television, including shocking body horror . It’s not for the faint of heart.
Do I need to watch the ‘It’ movies first?
No, you don’t. The series is designed as a standalone story. As one critic put it, “You don’t have to watch Muschietti’s movies or read any of King’s books to grasp what’s unfolding on Welcome to Derry” . However, fans of the films will get more out of the numerous Easter eggs and connections.
Is Pennywise in the show?
Yes, Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise. However, viewers should be prepared for his presence to be limited in the early episodes, with the show building its terror through other means before his full arrival .
How does it connect to Stephen King’s other works?
The series firmly places itself in the Stephen King multiverse. Beyond the obvious It connections, the inclusion of Dick Hallorann from The Shining and other subtle references tie Derry’s fate to a larger, interconnected world of King’s stories .
Is the series worth watching?
For horror fans and Stephen King enthusiasts, It: Welcome to Derry is a compelling and worthwhile expansion of the mythology. It’s a “solidly entertaining” show that, while imperfect, offers a smart, dark, and deeply frightening return to one of horror’s most infamous towns .
The Final Verdict
It: Welcome to Derry is more than a simple origin story for a clown. It’s a smart, timely, and genuinely terrifying series that uses its horror framework to examine the real-world monsters of racism, trauma, and societal indifference. While it sometimes struggles to balance its many ambitious threads, its powerful performances, daring scares, and thoughtful expansion of the It lore make it a must-watch for anyone brave enough to return to Derry.
The first episode is now streaming on HBO and Max. Will you be tuning in to uncover Derry’s darkest secrets?
