Happy Halloween, indeed!
Just in time for the spooky holiday, HBO has released a surprise episode of “It: Welcome to Derry” on the streaming platform. Titled “A Story of Derry,” the special comes in at 30 minutes and is set hundreds of years before the show’s events and the introduction of Pennywise.
The timing is perfect for a surprise release of the supernatural horror, which HBO renewed for a second season in August. “It: Welcome to Derry” originally premiered on HBO Max on Oct. 26, 2025. It is based on Stephen King’s novel “It” and builds on the two-part “It” film reboot from 2017 and 2019. The show serves as a prequel to the films.
He also clarified that Season 2 will have a different aesthetic than Season 1.
“In this case, on the surface, Derry is a graveyard almost. It’s a carcass of something because people are depleted, poor, tired, jobless, homeless. The kids don’t have a suburban, comforting life,” Muschietti said. “They’re in a very different situation. Some of them are orphans or runaways, and so the environment is pretty bleak. But there’s always the aspect of hope that is always there, burning, and it’s what keeps our new group going.”
