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IT: Welcome to Derry Premieres Sunday on HBO as Muschiettis Return to a Darker Pennywise Origin

The prequel unfolds in 1962 under a reverse‑chronology plan that the creators say sharpens the story’s real‑world resonance.

Overview

  • The series debuts Oct. 26 on HBO and Max in the US—reported in some listings as a two‑episode launch—with the UK premiere on Sky/NOW Oct. 27 followed by weekly episodes.
  • Andy and Barbara Muschietti developed the show with Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane, and Bill Skarsgård reprises Pennywise while also serving as an executive producer.
  • The creative team describes a darker, more graphic approach than past adaptations, saying HBO supported airing a very intense opening sequence.
  • Set 27 years before the films, the story draws on Mike Hanlon’s interludes from Stephen King’s novel to explore Derry’s history and the entity’s origins.
  • Outlets differ on season length, with reports of either eight or nine episodes, and the creators have mapped a multi‑season arc told in reverse.