Stephen King’s It—a story about a nightmare-inducing clown terrorizing the teenagers of Derry—remains one of his most popular works. Director Andy Muschietti adapted it into a well-received film a few years ago, shifting the timeline from the 1950s to the 1980s. This opens the door for a prequel series that dives further into the past, Welcome to Derry, for which official images and plot details have just been released. You can check out a few of these images below, along with the official logo.
Entertainment Weekly recently published a detailed article on Welcome to Derry, featuring all the images (we could only share a few, as EW holds exclusive rights). As Andy Muschietti confirmed to the magazine, the series draws on interludes tied to Mike in King’s story. Mike, the only member of the Losers Club to stay in Derry into adulthood, becomes a librarian with access to a wealth of information through his research. By the story’s second part, he is aware that Pennywise, or It, has reappeared.
"In Welcome to Derry, we explore themes that the film touches on—friendship, loss, and the power of shared belief," say creators Andy and Barbara Muschietti. "This story also delves into how fear can be wielded as a weapon, which feels particularly relevant today," they told Entertainment Weekly.
The article reveals that the story will be set in the 1960s, specifically in 1962. This was the year the Black Spot nightclub, opened by Mike’s father Will and his Air Force friends near their base, burned down. The club, a safe haven for Black patrons, became a target for a white supremacist group that ultimately destroyed it, killing many. Pennywise’s appearance will be tied to this tragedy.
1962 holds special significance because It (the movie’s timeline) takes place in 1989. The difference between these years? 27 years—the symbolic period in King’s mythology marking Pennywise’s return. Muschietti promises that Welcome to Derry will explore past tragic events linked to Pennywise, including flashbacks revealing parts of his history. However, the creators emphasize that they won’t demystify the creature entirely, showing only what is necessary to support the story.
It has been confirmed that Bill Skarsgård will reprise his role as Pennywise in the series. But who will play young Will Hanlon? Entertainment Weekly speculates that Jovan Adepo will take on the role, while Taylour Paige is likely to portray his future wife, Jessica. The creators have neither confirmed nor denied these guesses, aiming to keep surprises under wraps for the series.
Welcome to Derry is expected to debut on Max sometime in 2025. Andy Muschietti directed four of the nine episodes, including the pilot.
