‘Welcome to Derry’ Trailer Reveals 1962 Setting and the Terrifying Return of Pennywise

HBO is heading back to the cursed town of Derry, Maine this fall with Welcome to Derry, a prequel series set in the terrifying universe of Stephen King’s IT. The network dropped the official teaser trailer today, giving fans their first glimpse at the horror to come—and confirming the return of Bill Skarsgård as the one and only Pennywise the Clown.

Spanning nine episodes, Welcome to Derry will serve as a prequel to IT: Chapter One, picking up in 1962—27 years before the events of the 2017 film. The series dives into the town’s sinister history, drawing inspiration from Mike Hanlon’s interludes in King’s novel that chronicle Derry’s long legacy of mysterious tragedies.

Described as a spiritual and narrative continuation of Andy Muschietti’s IT films, the series promises new horrors lurking beneath familiar ground. Muschietti, who directed both IT and IT: Chapter Two, returns to direct multiple episodes and executive produce alongside Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. Fuchs also penned the teleplay for the pilot and serves as co-showrunner with Brad Caleb Kane.

The cast includes Taylour Paige (Zola), Jovan Adepo (Watchmen), Chris Chalk (Perry Mason), James Remar (Oppenheimer), Madeleine Stowe (Revenge), and Stephen Rider (Daredevil), among many others. Skarsgård’s return as Pennywise marks a major highlight, reuniting fans with the modern horror icon that terrified a generation.

Produced by HBO and Warner Bros. Television, Welcome to Derry is developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, based on Stephen King’s legendary novel.

Muschietti has hinted that, if renewed, future seasons may explore Derry’s older horrors, with possible timelines set in 1935 and even 1908.

Check out the official teaser for Welcome to Derry below—if you dare.