Pure terror! With his 1986 novel "It", Stephen King created one of the scariest creatures in horror history: Of course, we're talking about Pennywise the Clown. He was already up to no good in film adaptations in 1990, 2017 and 2019. But soon the horror will also be awaiting us in the form of a series. In this article, we give you a first overview of what to expect in the prequel.

What "Welcome to Derry" Is All About

As the series title "Welcome to Derry" implies, the small town of the same name will once again be the focus of the story. It has been terrorized by an evil entity for centuries - in fact, every 27 years. The plot of the series takes us back to the early 1960s and will once again revolve around a group of young people who have to confront the creature.

More detailed information about the plot is currently being kept under wraps. However, we can assume that the monster will once again bring the children face to face with their greatest fears, just as Pennywise has done in previous movies to feast on their fears. Speaking of Pennywise: Since the otherwise nameless creature is a shapeshifter, we can certainly look forward to seeing all kinds of creepy forms. We are particularly excited about the clown's new look, of course!

The Cast

For the cast, Warner Bros. has already managed to acquire several experienced actors: These include Chris Chalk and Jovan Adepo, for example. Chalk has previously performed convincingly in productions such as "Perry Mason" and "Shining Girls". Adepo was last seen in Damien Chazelle's "Babylon" and was also awarded an Emmy for his performance in the HBO series "Watchmen". The cast also includes James Remar, known from "Oppenheimer", as well as Madeleine Stowe and Taylour Paige.

Sadly, it is not yet known who will take on the iconic role of Pennywise. Originally, Bill Skarsgård was once again considered for the job. However, in an interview in April 2023, he revealed that he would not be returning for the role. Nevertheless, Skarsgård had one piece of advice for his successor, namely to do it his own way and have fun doing so.

The Production

Behind the scenes, siblings Andy and Barbara Muschietti are once again working on the project. Andy Muschietti has previously directed "It" and "It Chapter 2" and will also direct a number of episodes for the series, including the pilot. Jason Fuchs will work as writer and producer. He previously wrote the DC blockbuster "Wonder Woman" and was also seen in a small role in "It Chapter 2": In the sequel, he played Richie's manager.

The production of "Welcome to Derry" is being handled by HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television.

When Will The Series Be Released?

"Welcome to Derry" was initially scheduled to be released for Halloween in 2024. In November 2023, however, Deadline reported that HBO wanted to postpone the project to 2025 along with the third season of "The White Lotus". The reason given was the impact of the actors' and writers' strike, which resulted in a major disruption in Hollywood. Nevertheless, a release in 2024 does not seem to be entirely off the table: After all, production on many series and movies resumed shortly after the strike was over. We'll keep you up to date on the progress of production!