The Chilling Truth: 7 Things You Need To Know About IT: Welcome To Derry (The Prequel That Has Already Premiered)
The mystery is over, and the terror has begun. As of December 22, 2025, the highly anticipated prequel series to the blockbuster *It* films, officially titled *It: Welcome to Derry*, is no longer a future release date but a current, must-watch horror event. The series premiered on HBO and Max, pulling viewers back into the cursed town of Derry, Maine, decades before the Losers’ Club ever faced Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
This article cuts through the old rumors and speculation to deliver the absolute latest, confirmed details about the show’s release, its plot, the incredible ensemble cast, and the surprisingly divisive critical reception. If you've been waiting for the definitive update on the *It* prequel, your wait ends now—but the terror of Derry is just getting started.
The Confirmed Release, Network, and Production Timeline
For months, fans tracked every rumor and production update, but the official timeline is now cemented. The prequel series faced significant delays, which only heightened the anticipation for its eventual premiere.
- Official Premiere Date: The series officially premiered on Sunday, October 26, 2025, just in time for the Halloween season.
- Network and Streaming: *It: Welcome to Derry* airs on HBO and is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max).
- Reason for Delay: Production was initially halted in July 2023 due to the widespread SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in Hollywood. This pause pushed the original planned release date back but allowed the creative team to refine the story.
- Showrunners and Creative Team: The series was developed by the creative powerhouse siblings, Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, who directed and produced the 2017 and 2019 *It* films. They serve as Executive Producers and Showrunners alongside Jason Fuchs, who also wrote the script.
Full Cast & Key Characters: A New Generation of Victims
Unlike the films, which focused on the Losers’ Club, *It: Welcome to Derry* introduces an entirely new group of characters, primarily centering on the Hanlon family. The cast list is packed with established talent, adding significant dramatic weight to the horror narrative. This list represents the core ensemble bringing the 1962 timeline to life.
- Bill Skarsgård as It / Pennywise the Dancing Clown: Skarsgård reprises his iconic role, a detail that was confirmed later in the production process and was a major relief to fans.
- Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon: A key new character, Charlotte is one of the central figures in the series' narrative.
- Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon: Leroy is a significant new character, likely connected to the Hanlon family legacy in Derry.
- Chris Chalk as Dick Hanlon: Chalk is cast as Dick Hanlon, a name that may resonate with readers of the Stephen King novel, as his father, Mike Hanlon, told him tales of "It."
- James Remar as General Shaw: A veteran actor adding gravitas to the ensemble, Remar plays a character named General Shaw.
- Stephen Rider as Hank: Rider takes on the role of Hank, another adult figure in the unsettling town of Derry.
- Madeleine Stowe: The veteran actress is cast in an undisclosed but major role, further deepening the show's dramatic ensemble.
- Matilda Lawler and Clara Stack (Lilly): Two young actresses who are part of the new generation of children facing the inexplicable terrors.
The Plot: Uncovering Pennywise's True Origin in 1962
The series is a direct prequel to the 2017 and 2019 films, but it is also deeply rooted in the lore of Stephen King’s original novel. The plot focuses on the decades leading up to the Losers' Club's first encounter with the creature, providing a dark historical context for the town of Derry, Maine.
The story is set primarily in 1962, a full 27 years before the events of the first film, which aligns perfectly with It's 27-year hibernation cycle. [cite: 10 in previous step] The narrative is an original story that expands on the mythology, particularly exploring the dark history of the town and the early sightings of "It"—the cosmic, shape-shifting entity that Pennywise is a manifestation of. [cite: 2, 19 in previous step]
The first episode reportedly opens with a truly bizarre and grotesque sequence involving a character named Matty Clements and a family, culminating in the birth of a mutant baby, immediately establishing the show's commitment to King's more unsettling, visceral horror. The central conflict revolves around the newly introduced Hanlon family as they grapple with the inexplicable terrors that begin to surface in the seemingly quiet town.
The Slow Burn: Why Pennywise's Appearance is Delayed
A key piece of information for fans is the creative team's decision regarding Pennywise's screen time. The showrunners have confirmed that the appearance of Pennywise the Clown is a "slow burn," meaning the entity will not be a constant presence in the early episodes. [cite: 13 in previous step] This intentional delay is designed to build anticipation and tension, focusing first on the town's atmosphere of mounting dread and the psychological toll on the new characters, much like the best parts of the original novel.
Early Critical Reception: A Divisive Descent into Fear
Now that the series has premiered, the critical consensus is surprisingly split, indicating that *It: Welcome to Derry* is a show that is challenging both critics and viewers. This mixed reception makes the show a major talking point in the current horror landscape.
- Praise for Horror and Tone: Many critics have lauded the series for its commitment to grotesque horror, its mystery-packed narrative, and its successful channeling of Stephen King’s favorite dark topics. Some reviews have hailed it as a "grotesque horror winner" and even ranked it among the "Best Stephen King Adaptations" of all time.
- Criticism for Execution: Conversely, the initial reviews have been described as "severely split." Some critics and fans have pointed to flaws in the execution, suggesting the production value feels "fake" or that the acting is "pretty average TV acting," which detracts from the terrifying atmosphere.
This divisive reaction suggests that the show is not simply a retread of the films but a bold, ambitious, and sometimes polarizing expansion of the *It* universe.
What Does This Mean for the Losers' Club?
While the focus is on the new characters in 1962, the series is fundamentally a prequel to the story of the Losers' Club. The show is designed to enrich the mythology surrounding the creature, "It," before the events of the 2017 film. By establishing the town's history of violence and unexplained horrors, the series provides a deeper understanding of why Derry is the perfect hunting ground for Pennywise.
Fans should expect numerous Easter eggs and thematic connections to the films and the novel. The inclusion of the Hanlon family, particularly Dick Hanlon, strongly suggests a direct tie to Mike Hanlon, the only member of the Losers' Club who remains in Derry and becomes the town's historian. The prequel is essentially laying the groundwork for Mike's deep knowledge of the town's cycle of evil, making the original story even richer.
The ultimate intention of the Muschiettis is to create a complete, cohesive, and terrifying cinematic universe for Stephen King's most iconic monster. With the first season now airing, the *It* saga is officially bigger and darker than ever before.
Detail Author:
- Name : Melany Gusikowski
- Username : madge53
- Email : moore.valentin@hotmail.com
- Birthdate : 1988-06-22
- Address : 40830 Lemke Crossing Apt. 145 Beierfort, KY 53847-7850
- Phone : (248) 286-9769
- Company : Sawayn, Bayer and Schinner
- Job : Crushing Grinding Machine Operator
- Bio : Quaerat iusto vero repellendus molestias. Vel occaecati voluptatibus labore iure. Omnis fuga assumenda cumque odit et dicta maxime. Adipisci debitis culpa aut quo non earum et rem.
Socials
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/rita_feil
- username : rita_feil
- bio : Modi consectetur soluta sed excepturi illum. Expedita officiis repellat omnis sapiente et accusantium dolor. Voluptatem sunt doloremque sit quo.
- followers : 1721
- following : 1553
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/rfeil
- username : rfeil
- bio : Voluptatem non debitis non qui ea. Repudiandae sed quia ut maiores.
- followers : 120
- following : 2047
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/rita_feil
- username : rita_feil
- bio : Et recusandae quo aliquam qui. Ea sit iusto voluptatem. Dolorem optio nisi aut sint.
- followers : 1215
- following : 914
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/feil2007
- username : feil2007
- bio : Sed laboriosam debitis est eaque.
- followers : 6609
- following : 1103
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@feil2003
- username : feil2003
- bio : Illum velit commodi quas. Non explicabo voluptas dignissimos cupiditate.
- followers : 5522
- following : 1676
