It – Welcome to Derry
It: Welcome to Derry is an American supernatural horror television series based on Stephen King 1986 novel It. Serving as a prequel to the films It and It Chapter Two, the series was developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, all of whom were involved in the It films. The series stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, and Mikkal Karim-Fidler, with Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise from the films and serving as an executive producer on the series.
Andy and Barbara Muschietti along with Fuchs began developing an It television series in March 2022. After receiving a production commitment later that November, Fuchs and Brad Kane were hired as showrunners. The series was greenlit in February 2023, with Andy Muschietti attached to direct multiple episodes, including the pilot episode, and Fuchs as a writer. Casting began later in April, including Skarsgård being 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 for its production value, direction, opening title sequence, and performances, but received criticism for its visual effects and some writing choices.
Premise
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.Cast and characters
Main
- Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon, an activist, Leroy's wife and Will's mother
- 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.
- James Remar as Francis Shaw, Leroy's superior officer who is a US Air Force Lieutenant General and is searching 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, Lilly's friend who is afraid of no longer being with the popular ones. An older Marge was portrayed by Janet Porter in It Chapter Two.
- Amanda Christine as Veronica "Ronnie" Grogan, Hank's daughter who befriends Lilly
- Clara Stack as Lillian "Lilly" Bainbridge, a girl dealing with the death of her father, an absent mother, and guilt
- Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon, Leroy and Charlotte's son, future father of Mike Hanlon, and science enthusiast who finds it difficult to adapt to Derry
- Arian Cartaya as Rich Santos, a Cuban American who befriends Will and has a crush on Marge
- Miles Ekhardt as Matty Clements, a boy who disappears when Pennywise awakens
- Mikkal Karim-Fidler as Teddy Uris, Phil's best friend who comes from a Jewish family
- Jack Molloy Legault as Phil Malkin, Teddy's best friend and a conspiracy theorist
- Matilda Legault as Susie Malkin, Phil's younger sister
- Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann, an Airman 1st Class 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 and Carl Lumbly in Doctor Sleep.
- 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 army
- 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 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 at the military base
- Dorian Grey as Loverboy Jax, a friend of Hallorann at the military base
- Richard Walters as Airman Jacobs, a friend of Hallorann at the military base
- Liam Seamus Murphy as Morris Bainbridge, Lilly's father, who died in a pickle factory accident
- * Andrew Morgado provides the voice of Morris
- Lazzelle Gelias as Rose Hallorann, the deceased grandmother of Hallorann
- 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 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
In March 2022, Variety reported that Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs were developing and serving as executive producers of a prequel television series of the film It for HBO Max, titled Welcome to Derry. It was to take place in the 1960s before the events of the film and would also include the origin story of Pennywise. 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.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.
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".Muschietti 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.