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‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ Debuts on HBO With Bill Skarsgård Back as Pennywise

Set in 1962, the prequel foregrounds new characters with explicit ties to The Shining’s Dick Hallorann.

Overview

  • Episode 1 premiered Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with eight episodes rolling out Sundays through Dec. 14.
  • The story unfolds 27 years before It: Chapter One, drawing on Stephen King’s Derry interludes, including the Black Spot nightclub chapter.
  • Andy Muschietti developed the series with Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, with Muschietti directing multiple episodes and Skarsgård also serving as an executive producer.
  • The show links directly to King’s wider universe by introducing a young Dick Hallorann, played by Chris Chalk.
  • Early recaps describe a bold, expectation-subverting turn in the premiere, and the creators have discussed a potential backward-moving, multi-season arc if the series continues.