It: Welcome to Derry is an American supernatural horror television series based on Stephen King's 1986 novel It. Serving as a prequel to the films It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), the series was developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, all of whom were involved in the It films. The series stars a large ensemble cast including Bill Skarsgård, who serves as executive producer and reprises his role as Pennywise from the films.
Andy and Barbara Muschietti along with Fuchs began developing the series in March 2022. After receiving a production commitment later that November, Fuchs and Brad Kane were hired as showrunners, and the series was greenlit in February 2023, with Andy Muschietti, who had directed both films, attached to direct multiple episodes, including the pilot. Casting began later in April, with Skarsgård cast in May 2024. Filming for the series began in May 2023 but was halted in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike; it concluded in August 2024.
It: Welcome to Derry premiered on HBO on October 26, 2025. The series received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its direction, production values, title sequence, and performances (particularly from Skarsgård, Chris Chalk, and the younger cast), although the writing and visual effects received some criticism. In August 2026, the series was renewed for a second season.
Premise In the first season, set in 1962, a couple with their son move to Derry, Maine, just as a young boy disappears. With their arrival, bad things begin to happen in the town.
In the second season, set in 1935 during the Great Depression, the Bradley Gang, a group of bank robbers, arrives in Derry to purchase ammunition, only to find themselves caught in a brutal massacre and confronted with terrifying horrors.
Cast and characters Main
Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon, an activist, Leroy's wife and Will's mother whose family recently moved to Derry due to Leroy's new assignment. Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, a US Air Force Major, Charlotte's husband and Will's father. An older Leroy was portrayed by Steven Williams in It (2017). James Remar as Francis Shaw, a US Air Force Lieutenant General who is Leroy's superior officer and searches for a "weapon" in hopes of ending the Cold War Diesel La Torraca as young Shaw in 1908 Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan, Ronnie's father and the projectionist at the local cinema Matilda Lawler as Marge Truman, a high schooler who finds herself torn between her old friendship with the unpopular Lilly and a desire to fit in with a group of more popular girls. An older Marge was portrayed by Janet Porter in It Chapter Two (2019). Amanda Christine as Veronica "Ronnie" Grogan, a high schooler and Hank's daughter who befriends Lilly Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge, a high schooler dealing with the death of her father and a neglectful mother, and who is both frequently bullied and infamous at school for her supposed insanity Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon, a high schooler who is the son of Leroy and Charlotte and future father of Mike Hanlon, who finds it difficult to adapt to Derry Arian Cartaya as Rich Santos, a Cuban American high schooler who befriends Will and has a crush on Marge Miles Ekhardt as Matty Clements, a high schooler who disappears when Pennywise awakens Mikkal Karim-Fidler as Teddy Uris, a higher schooler and Phil's best friend who comes from a Jewish family Jack Molloy Legault as Phil Malkin, a high schooler and Teddy's best friend who is a conspiracy theorist Matilda Legault as Susie Malkin, Phil's younger sister Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann, an Airman with telepathic and clairvoyant skills who helps the Air Force search for a "weapon". An older Hallorann was portrayed by Scatman Crothers in The Shining (1980) and Carl Lumbly in Doctor Sleep (2019). Peter Outerbridge as Clint Bowers, Derry's corrupt police chief Madeleine Stowe as Ingrid Kersh / Periwinkle, the head housekeeper at Juniper Hill Asylum and Bob Gray's daughter who befriends Lilly Tyner Rushing as young Ingrid in 1935 Emma-Leigh Cullum as child Ingrid in 1908 Joan Gregson as an elderly Ingrid in 1988, reprising her role from It Chapter Two. This was her final role, following her death in June 2025. Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, an evil shapeshifting creature that sows chaos in Derry Skarsgård also portrays Bob Gray, the original human Pennywise from 1908
Recurring
Rudy Mancuso as Captain Pauly Russo, Leroy Hanlon's partner and best friend in the Air Force Alixandra Fuchs as Teresa "Terri" Bainbridge, Lilly's mother Thomas Mitchell as Colonel Fuller, a military colonel involved in General Shaw's mission Maya McNair as Patricia "Patty" Stanton, the leader of the Pattycakes, a popular group of mean girls, who play cruel pranks to be the center of attention Hannah Storey as Rhonda Chambers, a Pattycake and friend of Patty and Elaine Maya Misaljevic as Elaine Morrison, a Pattycake and friend of Patty and Rhonda Kimberly Guerrero as Rose, a Native American woman who owns a pawn shop and has a history with Shaw Violet Sutherland as young Rose in 1908 Joshua Odjick as Taniel, Rose's nephew Tres Garcia as young Taniel Chad Rook as Sergeant Masters, a racist military sergeant who has tension with Leroy Shane Marriott as Reggie Davis, a friend of Hallorann's at the military base Dorian Grey as Loverboy Jax, a friend of Hallorann's at the military base Richard Walters as Airman Jacobs, a friend of Hallorann's at the military base Lazzelle Gelias as Rose Hallorann, the deceased grandmother of Dick Wayne Charles Baker as John, a Native American chief in Derry Morningstar Angeline as Sesqui, a past Native American warrior Kiawentiio as Necani, Sesqui's daughter Larry Day as Stanley "Stan" Kersh, the local butcher and Ingrid's husband Lindsay Merrithew as Tibbs, Derry's councilman Peter Deiwick as Al Malkin, Phil and Susie's father
Guest
Finley Burke as Dan Uris, Teddy's brother and future father of Stan Uris. An older Dan was portrayed by Ari Cohen in It. Audrey Wellington as Arlene, a teenage girl who is in the car that picks up Matty Lochlan Ray Miller as Ray, a child who is in the car that picks up Matty Robert Clarke as Dunleavy, Derry's High School principal BJ Harrison as Louella Grogan, Ronnie's grandmother and Hank's mother Ryan J. O'Callaghan as Mr. Keene, a young pharmacist. An older Keene was portrayed by Joe Bostick in It and It Chapter Two. Andrew Moodie as Andy Hallorann, the deceased abusive grandfather of Hallorann Moni Ogunsuyi as Noreen, Loverboy Jax's date Madeleine Cox as Mabel, a Juniper Hill patient who encounters Pennywise in 1935 Andoni Gracia as Mr. Santos, Rich's father Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh, a teenage girl and future member of the Losers' Club, reprising her role from It and It Chapter Two.
Episodes
Production Development The idea of making a prequel series about Bob Gray's origin story and how he became Pennywise came to their mind during the filming of It Chapter Two (2019), which Andy Muschietti called "one of the big enigmas" that serves to generate tension in the book. In March 2022, Variety reported that Andy, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs were developing and serving as executive producers of a prequel television series of the film It (2017) for HBO Max, titled Welcome to Derry. It was to take place in the 1960s before the events of the film. It received a production commitment in November 2022, and Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane were hired as co-showrunners. The series was given a greenlight in February 2023, with Andy Muschietti directing multiple episodes, including the pilot written by Fuchs. Bill Skarsgård serves as an executive producer. John Bear Mitchell of the Penobscot Nation served as a consultant during development. This included advising producers on effective depiction of Wabanaki culture and history and actors on appropriate accents as well as other appropriate historic depictions. According to Mitchell, "I wanted the native people in there to be active protectors, for people to know they were managing the evil with ancestral knowledge."
In January 2026, it was announced that a second season is in the works, pending to be greenlit. Following speculation about the delay in the second season renewal, HBO head Casey Bloys mentioned that it was due to the time it takes to find the right story, since there's no "book that you're basing it on", but that it is not in limbo and will be made with the right story. In March 2026, Barbara confirmed that the season would happen and explained that the greenlight would only be given once the right story is ready. She added that it hasn't been officially announced yet because studios usually make advance announcements to "declare their confidence" in a show, which isn't necessary for this series. In August 2026, the series was renewed for a second season, with Kane serving as its sole showrunner.
Writing In a January 2025 interview with Radio TU, Andy Muschietti revealed details about the source material and longer-term plans. He said that the series is based on interlude chapters from the It novel, noting that "there's a reason why the story is told backwards." Muschietti mentioned that with the first season they are only "opening a window" of the story and that it will really "manifest" in the second and third seasons. The series will also focus on why Pennywise stays in Derry when he could go "somewhere else" and how he takes advantage of children because adults do not understand what happens to them. Executive producer Jason Fuchs said that the plan, apart from revealing the origin of Pennywise, is also the origin of the "cursed town". For Fuchs, Derry is also the entity "in many ways" because Pennywise "actually predates Derry". If given the opportunity, the planned seasons would leave a "different understanding of the creature, the town's rules, and what motivates It".
Andy stated that the second season will be set in 1935 and will focus on the Bradley Gang massacre and the Great Depression in Derry, introducing new characters and younger versions of characters from the first season. Andy mentioned that there would be a lot of Depression-era themes, with children smoking or missing teeth due to the hardships of the time. He later described Derry as almost a graveyard, "a carcass of something" with its population depleted, poor, tired, jobless and homeless. The new protagonists are children who lack a suburban, comforting life, instead being runaways or orphans in a bleak environment, while hope keeps them going; a family tree will also connect the timeline to the previous season.
Casting
In April 2023, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, and James Remar joined the cast in starring roles. Stephen Rider joined as a series regular and Madeleine Stowe as a recurring guest. In May 2024, Bill Skarsgård was cast to reprise his starring role as Pennywise. The following month, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Norris Guerrero, Dorian Grey, Thomas Mitchell, BJ Harrison, Peter Outerbridge, Shane Marriott, Chad Rook, Joshua Odjick, and Morningstar Angeline were cast in recurring capacities. In July, Rudy Mancuso was cast in a recurring role.
Filming