It – Welcome to Derry
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 2017 film It and its 2019 sequel It Chapter Two, both directed by Andy Muschietti.[1][2] Set in 1962 Derry, Maine, during the height of the Cold War, the series traces the origins of the ancient shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, who preys on the town's children every 27 years, while depicting the growing sense of dread as new residents arrive and sinister events unfold. As of November 2025, the first four episodes have aired, with the season ongoing.[1][2][3] Developed by Andy Muschietti, his sister Barbara Muschietti, and writer Jason Fuchs, the series expands on the cinematic universe established in the films, incorporating elements from King's original novel while introducing original storylines, such as the involvement of a local U.S. military base experimenting with unconventional weapons against communist threats.[1][4][3] The first season consists of eight episodes, which premiered on October 26, 2025, airing weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and streaming on Max, with the finale scheduled for December 14, 2025.[5][6] The show is produced by HBO and Warner Bros. Television, with Andy Muschietti directing multiple episodes, including the premiere.[7][8] The ensemble cast features Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon; Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon; Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann; James Remar as General Francis Shaw; Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan; Madeleine Stowe as Ingrid; Rudy Mancuso as Captain Pauly Russo (recurring); and Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise from the films.[1][2] Additional young characters include those played by actors such as Blake Cameron James as young Will Hanlon investigating child disappearances in Derry.[1] The series is rated TV-MA for its graphic violence, terror, and mature themes, and it has been made available with American Sign Language interpretation for accessibility.[9] Upon release, It – Welcome to Derry received generally positive reviews, with a 78% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (as of November 2025), praised for its atmospheric horror, faithful adaptation of King's mythos, and Skarsgård's chilling performance as Pennywise, though some critics noted it occasionally rehashes familiar tropes from the films.[10] The premiere episode drew 5.7 million viewers across HBO and Max in its first three days, marking it as the third most-watched HBO Max series premiere; the season averages 9.2 million U.S. viewers per episode (as of November 2025).[11][12]Overview
Premise
It – Welcome to Derry is set in 1962 in the town of Derry, Maine, where the Hanlon family—military major Leroy Hanlon, his wife Charlotte, and their young son Will—relocates amid rising tensions of the era. Their arrival coincides with the mysterious disappearance of a local child, which unleashes a series of supernatural horrors orchestrated by the ancient, shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. As the family attempts to settle into the community, they become entangled in the town's dark undercurrents, where everyday life masks an escalating cycle of fear and violence.[2][13] The series delves into Derry's cursed history, revealing how the entity has periodically awakened every 27 years to feed on the fears of children, influencing the town's residents and perpetuating a legacy of tragedy. Central themes include the racial prejudices faced by the Black Hanlon family in a predominantly white, insular 1960s New England community, intertwining personal struggles with broader societal divisions. Pennywise's manifestations exploit these vulnerabilities, blurring the lines between human malice and otherworldly terror.[14][1] Over the course of the first season, the narrative arcs from the Hanlons' initial integration into Derry's social fabric—marked by wary welcomes and subtle hostilities—to increasingly intense confrontations with Pennywise and the unraveling of long-buried local secrets. This prequel expands on the It franchise by exploring events leading up to the Losers' Club encounters in the 1980s.[10][15]Background
It – Welcome to Derry draws its conceptual origins from Stephen King's 1986 novel It, specifically the historical interludes that form part of Mike Hanlon's research into Derry's recurring cycles of violence and supernatural occurrences. These narrative segments in the book provide a backdrop of the town's dark history, which the series expands upon to explore Pennywise's influence prior to the events involving the Losers' Club.[16] As a prequel to Andy Muschietti's film adaptations It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), the series delves into Pennywise's ancient presence in Derry, Maine, while avoiding a retelling of the central Losers' Club storyline from the movies. This approach allows for an extension of the cinematic universe established by the films, focusing on the entity's origins and the town's foundational horrors.[17] The concept for It – Welcome to Derry originated during the production of It Chapter Two in the summer of 2018, when director Andy Muschietti began envisioning a deeper exploration of the It mythology. It was formally announced in March 2022 as a series for HBO Max, developed and executive produced by Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti alongside Jason Fuchs.[18][17]Cast and characters
Main
Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise, the ancient shape-shifting entity known as It, serving as the central antagonist whose malevolent presence drives the series' supernatural horrors and hints at deeper origins tied to Derry's cursed history. Jovan Adepo portrays Major Leroy Hanlon, a Korean War veteran and family patriarch stationed at Derry's Air Force base, who becomes increasingly aware of the town's dark undercurrents while protecting his loved ones from emerging threats.[19] Taylour Paige plays Charlotte Hanlon, Leroy's wife and a dedicated civil rights activist whose history of social justice work in Louisiana forces the family to relocate to Derry, where she confronts both racial tensions and otherworldly dangers amid daily family struggles.[20][21] Chris Chalk stars as Dick Hallorann, a fellow soldier possessing psychic abilities who aids in military operations around Derry and uncovers connections to the town's longstanding supernatural afflictions.[22] Rudy Mancuso depicts Captain Paulie Russo, Leroy Hanlon's loyal army comrade and friend at the Derry base during the Cuban Missile Crisis era, whose experiences expose him to the escalating terrors lurking in the community.[23]Recurring
Stephen Rider portrays Hank Grogan, the projectionist at Derry's local movie theater and a widower raising his daughter Ronnie amid the town's mounting tensions.[24] As a figure with deep roots in the community, Grogan's shady demeanor hints at his entanglement in concealing the town's dark secrets, including efforts to suppress reports of child disappearances.[25] His recurring presence underscores the pervasive fear and complicity among Derry's adults. James Remar plays General Francis Shaw, a high-ranking Air Force officer stationed at the local base who has long resided in Derry.[26] Shaw oversees "Operation Precept," a clandestine military initiative tied to the town's industrial and historical undercurrents, where he analyzes Derry's cyclical violence spanning 27 years.[27] Through his interactions with key figures like Leroy Hanlon, Shaw's role amplifies the ensemble's exploration of external forces exacerbating the supernatural threats.[28] Madeleine Stowe appears as a recurring guest in the role of Ingrid, a longstanding Derry resident harboring intimate knowledge of the town's previous cycles of horror.[29] Her character, a poised figure with hidden depths, provides subtle insights into the recurring patterns of tragedy that have plagued generations, enriching the series' atmospheric dread without dominating the narrative.[30] Among the younger recurring cast, Matilda Lawler embodies Marge Truman, a young girl grappling with personal insecurities and the eerie shadow of disappearances in Derry.[31] As Lilly Bainbridge's steadfast school friend, Marge navigates bullying and her own fears, her vulnerability highlighting the impact of the town's malevolence on its children.[32] Similarly, Miles Ekhardt depicts Matthew "Matty" Clements, a timid boy and peer to the Hanlon son, whose early encounters with Derry's horrors set a chilling tone for the unfolding events.[33] Matty's portrayal draws from the source material's themes but adapts his fate to emphasize Pennywise's manipulative cruelty.[34] Amanda Christine plays Ronnie Grogan, Hank's daughter and a member of the younger group facing Derry's terrors.[35] Clara Stack portrays Lilly Bainbridge, Marge's friend and a central young character investigating the town's mysteries alongside her peers.[35] Blake Cameron James appears as Will Hanlon, the young son of Leroy and Charlotte, who encounters the supernatural threats plaguing Derry's children.[35]Episodes
Season 1 (2025)
Season 1 of It – Welcome to Derry consists of eight episodes, premiering on HBO on October 26, 2025, and concluding on December 14, 2025, with most episodes airing weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, except for episode 2, which received an early Halloween release on October 31.[36] The season explores the origins of Pennywise and the town of Derry in 1962, building tension through the arrival of new residents and emerging horrors.[2] The premiere episode drew 5.7 million cross-platform viewers in the U.S. within its first three days, marking the third-largest series debut on HBO Max behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.[11] The episodes are as follows:| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Viewers (millions, 3-day) | Non-spoiler synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pilot | Andy Muschietti | Jason Fuchs | October 26, 2025 | 5.7 | Introduces the Hanlon family upon their arrival in Derry, Maine, amid the town's unsettling atmosphere.[37][38] |
| 2 | The Thing in the Dark | Andy Muschietti | Austin Guzman | October 31, 2025 | N/A | Reveals initial hints of supernatural activity affecting the new arrivals and local residents.[39][40] |
| 3 | Now You See It | Andy Muschietti | Guadalís Del Carmen & Gabriel Hobson | November 9, 2025 | 5.0 | Escalates the mysteries surrounding Derry as strange occurrences intensify.[41][12] |
| 4 | The Great Swirling Apparatus of Our Planet's Function | Andrew Bernstein | Helen Shang | November 16, 2025 | N/A | Delves deeper into the lore of Derry's dark history and cosmic influences.[42] |
| 5 | Neibolt Street | TBA | Brad Caleb Kane | November 23, 2025 | N/A | Centers on a confrontation at a notorious location tied to the town's secrets.[42] |
| 6 | TBA | TBA | TBA | November 30, 2025 | N/A | Continues the unfolding threats in Derry.[43] |
| 7 | TBA | TBA | TBA | December 7, 2025 | N/A | Builds toward the season's climactic revelations.[43] |
| 8 | TBA | TBA | TBA | December 14, 2025 | N/A | Concludes the first season's arc of horror and discovery.[43] |