The wait is finally over, horror fans. Pennywise the Dancing Clown is back to haunt your nightmares, this time in a new prequel series that digs deeper into the dark history of Stephen King’s fictional Maine town. It: Welcome to Derry premieres tonight on HBO and Max, bringing viewers back to the cursed town of Derry nearly three decades before the events of the popular 2017 and 2019 films.
Developed by Andy Muschietti, who directed both It and It: Chapter Two, this series expands the universe established in the films while exploring terrifying new territory. For those wondering what time the show airs, where to watch, and what to expect from this frightening new chapter, we have all the verified details you need before tuning in tonight.
What Is IT: Welcome to Derry?
It: Welcome to Derry is an eight-episode horror series that serves as a direct prequel to the two It films starring Bill Skarsgård as the entity known as Pennywise. The series is set in 1962, exactly 27 years before the events of the first film, following the established cycle in which the creature awakens every 27 years to feed on fear and children.
The creative team behind the films returns for this television adaptation, with Andy Muschietti directing the first four episodes and co-developing the series alongside his sister Barbara Muschietti and screenwriter Jason Fuchs. The project aims to expand on elements from Stephen King’s original 1986 novel that didn’t make it into the feature films, particularly the “interlude” sections that delve into Derry’s bloody history.
When Does IT: Welcome to Derry Premiere?
Release Schedule and Global Timings
The first episode of It: Welcome to Derry premieres tonight, Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) and 6:00 PM Pacific Time (PT) on HBO and streaming simultaneously on Max. The series will follow a weekly release pattern, with new episodes dropping every Sunday until the season finale on December 14, 2025.
For international viewers, here are the premiere times for various regions:
| Region | Platform | Local Premiere Time |
|---|---|---|
| United States | HBO/Max | 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT |
| United Kingdom | Sky Max/NowTV | 2:00 AM (October 27) |
| Brazil | HBO Max | 10:00 PM BRT |
| India | HBO Max | 6:30 AM IST (October 27) |
| Australia | HBO Max | 11:00 AM AEST (October 27) |
| Central European Time | HBO Max | 3:00 AM CEST (October 27) |
Special Halloween Surprise
In an unexpected move, HBO has announced that episode 2 will receive an early release for Halloween. Subscribers can stream “The Thing in the Dark” on Max starting at 3:00 AM ET on Friday, October 31, before it airs on HBO as scheduled on Sunday, November 2. This one-time scheduling exception provides a perfect Halloween viewing option for horror enthusiasts.
Complete Episode Guide
The first season of It: Welcome to Derry will consist of eight episodes released weekly. Here’s the complete release schedule:
- Episode 1: “The Pilot” – October 26, 2025
- Episode 2: “The Thing in the Dark” – November 2, 2025
- Episode 3: “Now You See It” – November 9, 2025
- Episode 4: Title TBA – November 16, 2025
- Episode 5: Title TBA – November 23, 2025
- Episode 6: Title TBA – November 30, 2025
- Episode 7: Title TBA – December 7, 2025
- Episode 8: Season Finale – December 14, 2025
The Story: What to Expect in Welcome to Derry
Setting the Scene: Derry, 1962
The series begins in 1962 Derry, Maine, with the arrival of Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), an African American Air Force officer who has just been stationed at the local base. He’s joined by his wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige) and their young son Will (Blake Cameron James). For Stephen King enthusiasts, the Hanlon name will be immediately familiar – Will grows up to become the father of Mike Hanlon, the librarian and sole remaining Derry resident from the Losers’ Club in the original stories.
The town is already on edge when the series opens. Four months prior to the events of the first episode, a classmate named Matty Clements has mysteriously disappeared. This prompts a group of children – Teddy, Phil, Lilly, and Ronnie – to investigate why so many kids have gone missing in Derry, especially as they each experience strange phenomena themselves.
Expanding the IT Universe
Unlike the films which focused primarily on the Losers’ Club, Welcome to Derry introduces several new elements to the mythology. The United States military has become aware of the creature in Derry and hopes to weaponize it against the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. This brings a new dimension to the story, with General Shaw (James Remar) overseeing a top-secret mission to capture and study the entity.
The series also introduces a Native American tribe who have taken it as their sacred duty for centuries to contain the monster. How effective they’ve been at this task is questionable, given Derry’s long history of violence and disappearances.
Meet the Cast: Familiar Faces and New Characters
Returning Favorites
- Bill Skarsgård reprises his iconic role as Pennywise, the shape-shifting entity that primarily appears as a terrifying clown. Though he doesn’t appear in the early episodes, his presence looms large over the series.
- Chris Chalk plays Dick Hallorann, a character familiar to Stephen King fans from The Shining. In this earlier timeline, Hallorann is an airman stationed at Derry Air Force Base, years before he would become the chef at the Overlook Hotel.
New Additions to the Derry Mythology
- Jovan Adepo as Major Leroy Hanlon, Mike Hanlon’s grandfather, a war hero with a unique condition – a damaged amygdala that has rendered him incapable of fear.
- Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon, Leroy’s wife and mother to Will. She’s portrayed as an activist with a strong sense of social justice who quickly senses that something is wrong in Derry.
- James Remar as General Shaw, the commanding officer at Derry Air Force Base who leads the mission to weaponize the creature.
- Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge, one of the central child characters who leads the search for the missing Matty after having visions of him reaching out from the sewers.
Early Critical Reception
The initial reviews for It: Welcome to Derry have been mixed, with critics divided on the series’ approach to expanding the mythology.
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series currently holds a 78% approval rating based on 54 critic reviews. The consensus suggests that while the plotting sometimes falters, the series “compellingly deepens the myth of Pennywise through sharp social commentary, a dreadful atmosphere, and committed performances.”
However, some critics have been less kind. Slate published a scathing review calling the show a “baffling, half-baked mess” that focuses on the weakest elements of King’s novel. The review particularly criticized the military plotline as ridiculous and noted that the child characters feel like simplistic shorthands compared to the memorable Losers’ Club from the original story.
On the positive side, critics from Men’s Health have described the series as “good,” praising its willingness to be “violent, gnarly, and atmospherically spooky” with shocking deaths that can occur at any moment. Polygon’s review called it an “excellent prequel” that effectively explores how Pennywise terrorizes and controls the town.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
How many episodes are in IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1?
The first season consists of eight episodes, released weekly every Sunday. The season will run from October 26 to December 14, 2025.
Where can I watch IT: Welcome to Derry outside the US?
International viewers can stream the series on various platforms depending on their region. UK audiences can watch on Sky Max and NowTV, while other regions have localized versions of HBO Max with the same release schedule adjusted for time zones.
Does Stephen King approve of the series?
Yes, Stephen King has endorsed the prequel series. According to the production team, King has expressed confidence in the creative team behind the project.
Is IT: Welcome to Derry connected to the movies?
Absolutely. The series serves as a direct prequel to the 2017 and 2019 It films, with Andy Muschietti returning as director and Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise. The series is designed to expand the universe established in those movies.
Are there plans for additional seasons?
Andy Muschietti has teased that there could be multiple seasons of the horror series, telling Deadline that “there is an intentional bigger arc that will open” across potential future seasons. He has specifically mentioned that three seasons are intended, set in 1962, 1935, and 1908 respectively, telling the story backward through Derry’s history.
Conclusion: Should You Watch IT: Welcome to Derry?
As the Halloween season approaches, It: Welcome to Derry offers horror fans an opportunity to return to one of Stephen King’s most terrifying creations. With its 1960s setting, new characters, and deeper exploration of Derry’s dark history, the series has the potential to expand the mythology in interesting ways.
While early reviews are mixed, the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise and the involvement of Andy Muschietti provide reason enough for fans of the films to give this series a chance. The weekly release schedule also means we’ll have plenty of time to dissect each new development and horror as Derry’s secrets are slowly revealed.
Will you be tuning in tonight to see what terrors await in Derry? Let us know your thoughts on social media after you’ve watched the premiere, and check back for our episode-by-episode analysis throughout the season.
