Andy and Barbara Muschietti Tease ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ — Promise to “Raise the Bar” on Shock and Horror

The world of Stephen King’s IT is coming back to life, this time on the small screen. It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel series to the 2017 and 2019 IT films, will premiere on HBO on October 26. The show is being developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, the same creative team behind the hit movies.

The series will star Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, and Stephen Rider, with Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise the Clown. Skarsgård, who terrified audiences in the films, is also serving as an executive producer on the project.

Originally planned as a movie, the story evolved into a nine-episode series that takes place years before the events of the films. The setting once again is the town of Derry, Maine, a place haunted by secrets, evil, and an ancient force that feeds on fear.

Speaking to HBO about the upcoming series, Andy Muschietti shared that television offered a bigger and more flexible format to expand the world of IT. “We never did TV before, but there’s a bunch of TV shows that mean a lot to me,” he said. “Having a bigger canvas to tell a story lets you explore mysteries that couldn’t fit in a movie.”

The filmmakers say they were drawn to the unanswered questions in Stephen King’s novel. “Our love for the book and all the mysteries in it meant we wanted to explore what IT really is,” Andy explained. “What does it want?”

When it comes to tone, the Muschiettis are not holding back. Andy said their goal was to “raise the bar higher in terms of shock value.” He described the show’s opening as intense and unpredictable. “We wanted a strong opening — something that immediately puts the audience on edge,” he said. “It’s about building tension until it explodes into something shocking and graphic.”

The first season of Welcome to Derry will take place during the 1960s, a period marked by Cold War fears and growing paranoia. Andy shared that this era adds a new layer of terror to the story. “It was very exciting to explore what the ’60s were like in America and what fear meant then,” he said. “People were terrified of nuclear war. Kids were doing drills at school. Everyone lived with anxiety about the future.”

The series also introduces a nearby military base that plays a mysterious role in the story, adding to the tension that lurks beneath the surface of Derry.

Though Season 1 hasn’t premiered yet, the Muschiettis already have plans for the future. Andy revealed that Welcome to Derry is designed to unfold over several seasons, each going further back in time to uncover the town’s dark past. “There is an intentional bigger arc,” he said. “My plan is to create a story that’s like an iceberg under the water through Seasons 1, 2, and 3.”

According to Andy, Season 2 will be set in 1935, and the story will continue to dig deeper into the origins of Pennywise and the evil that has haunted Derry for generations.

It: Welcome to Derry aims to expand the mythology introduced in King’s novel and the films, drawing inspiration from the book’s “Interludes,” which explored the town’s violent history. With its mix of psychological tension, historical themes, and supernatural horror, the show promises to deliver a new chapter of fear that feels both familiar and terrifyingly fresh.

Run. #ITWelcomeToDerry premieres October 26 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/YV2rCoYQOp

Expanding IT into a series sounds like a smart move. There’s so much mystery surrounding Pennywise and the town of Derry that a show could finally dig into. If the Muschiettis manage to balance scares with good storytelling, this could become one of HBO’s standout horror hits. What do you think, are you excited to return to Derry? Share your thoughts in the comments.