“IT: Welcome to Derry”: All About the Prequel and How It Connects to the Original Horror Movie

From the plot to the cast, here's what we know so far about 'It: Welcome to Derry'

There's more where It came from.

IT: Welcome to Derry will serve as the prequel to the beloved It movies — the first of which became the highest-grossing horror film of all time, per Variety — based on the novel by Stephen King. Set 27 years before the first film, the series will explore the origins of Pennywise, but with a "healthy dose of crypticism," the original filmmakers told Entertainment Weekly.

"This is a book we love a lot, and we felt that there was still a lot of story to be covered," returning director Andy Muschietti and his producing partner and sister Barbara Muschietti said. "It's so rich with characters and events, we thought we would do justice to the book and the fans by going back into this world."

The series will premiere on HBO and be available to stream on Max in 2025. Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige will join the franchise as leads with Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise.

Here's everything to know about IT: Welcome to Derry and how it connects to the original horror movie.

What is IT: Welcome to Derry about?

In the second of the two-part adaptation of King's horror classic It, Mike Hanlon's father tells him tales that outline early sightings of "It" — the entity that has haunted the town of Derry for generations. This prompts Mike to track down its origin through interviews with the older people in the town.

In King's novel, he presents Mike's research in "interludes," bouncing between the main storyline of Pennywise and the Loser's Club. These mini-stories became the inspiration for the nine-episode prequel series.

Muschietti told EW that, like the original It movies, Welcome to Derry will touch on themes of "friendship, loss [and] the power of unified belief."

"But this story focuses also on the use of fear as a weapon, which is one of the things that is also relevant to our times," he added.

According to EW, the storyline will play out in 1962 — the year the Black Spot burned down — placing the series 27 years before the events of the first It movie and centering the Black Spot's demise as the event that other stories are built around.

"Twenty-seven years is the dormant period of Pennywise," the filmmakers told EW. "It’s a different part of American history with a new set of fears for children, as well as adults having in mind the cost of the Cold War."

Who will be in the cast of IT: Welcome to Derry?

IT: Welcome to Derry will star 3 Body Problem's Adepo and Zola's Paige. They are joined by Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe and Rudy Mancuso, per EW.

Deadline reported that the cast also includes Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Dorian Grey, Thomas Mitchell, BJ Harrison, Peter Outerbridge, Shane Marriott, Chad Rook, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

As for the original cast, only Skarsgård is set to reprise his role as Pennywise — and join the team in executive producing.

"We are SO lucky to be joined by this extraordinary group of brilliant, passionate and inspiring actors who are helping bring to life this lost chapter of Derry, Maine’s history," screenwriter Jason Fuchs wrote of the cast on Instagram in June 2024.

Who is directing IT: Welcome to Derry?

Muschietti, who directed the two It movies, will be directing four of the nine episodes, including the premiere. Fuchs is writing the screenplay based on a storyline developed by him and the Muschiettis.

In addition, Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane will serve as co-showrunners and executive producers.

Where can I watch IT: Welcome to Derry?

IT: Welcome to Derry will premiere on HBO and stream on Max.

It can be streamed on Max, while It: Chapter Two is available for streaming on Netflix.

When will IT: Welcome to Derry be released?

IT: Welcome to Derry is set to be released in 2025, but no date has been set yet.