And It’s Terrifying Without King: Why 'Welcome to Derry' Might Be Scarier Than the Original 'It'

He crawls out of storm drains, blows out balloons into darkness, and feeds on fear. Pennywise is back. But this time, not in two parts like Muschietti’s films — he’s stretched across decades and seasons. Welcome to Derry is the official prequel to It, and possibly the most ambitious horror universe of recent years.

Filming wrapped back in 2024 — after 237 shooting days, the team managed to cover three separate time periods: 1962, 1935, and even 1908. According to rumours, that’s when Pennywise first took on his now-iconic clown form. The first season will include nine episodes and is expected to land on Max in November 2025, according to insiders.

The demon himself is back too. Bill Skarsgård returns not only as Pennywise — complete with red nose, white greasepaint, and that nightmarish grin — but also as a producer. He’ll be joined by Jovan Adepo, known for Overlord and To Catch a Killer, as well as James Remar, whose role is still under wraps. But if Pennywise is on screen, no one’s safe.

At the centre of the story is Derry — long before the Losers' Club. A town where fear runs through the plumbing, children vanish with chilling frequency, and the "Black Spot" nightclub becomes the latest site of horror. Fans of the book will recognise this — it never made it into the movies, but now there’s a chance to see it onscreen.

And even though Stephen King didn’t write the prequel himself, his presence is felt in every scene. One of the characters will even be linked to Mike Hanlon — the only member of the original Losers who stayed in Derry. So yes, the bridge to the original is already built.

Just… don’t turn on the lights if you hear a wheezy giggle coming from the sewers. Pennywise is playing again — and this time, the stakes feel higher than ever.