IT: Welcome To Derry, everything you need to know: the true face of horror is about to be revealed

It's not a sequel. It's not a reboot. It's the dark heart of a story you know… told for the first time. It: Welcome to Derry is the event series from HBO and Sky Exclusive that takes us back to the cursed town of Maine, long before the events told in the films. An official prequel to the films It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019), the series promises to reveal the origins of the evil lurking beneath Derry's surface: Pennywise the Clown. Here's everything you need to know!

• The plot
• Connections to the films and novel
• The cast
• The release date
• Where to watch it in Italy?
• How many episodes does it have?
• The trailer
• The poster

The plot of It: Welcome to Derry, what is it about?

Set in 1962, the series tells the story of a family consisting of a mother, father, and son arriving in the town of Derry, Maine. But just as they set foot in town, a child mysteriously disappears. It's just the first in a long series of unsettling events. Derry hides a dark and ancient secret: something – or someone – ancient and monstrous seems to have awakened... again.

It: Welcome to Derry, connections to the films and novel

The series, which chronologically takes place before the events of the films directed by Muschietti, is rooted in the interlude chapters of Stephen King's original novel (which you can buy on Amazon). According to the director himself, each season will be set in a different era (1962, 1935, and 1908), to retrospectively tell the story of Pennywise and the curse of Derry.

This structure will allow for the exploration of the creature's numerous cyclical appearances, directly connecting to the dynamics described in the book and expanding the lore of the IT universe.

The cast of It: Welcome to Derry

The main cast of the series includes:

• Bill Skarsgård – returns in the iconic role of Pennywise, and also serves as an executive producer
• Taylour Paige – Charlotte Hanlon
• Jovan Adepo – Leroy Hanlon
• Chris Chalk – Dick Hallorann (already present in The Shining)
• James Remar
• Stephen Rider
• Madeleine Stowe
• Rudy Mancuso

Among the secondary characters, we also find Alixandra Fuchs, Peter Outerbridge, Chad Rook, Kimberly Norris Guerrero, and other performers ready to bring Derry's dark secrets to life.

The release date of It: Welcome to Derry

The series will debut on October 26, 2025 on HBO, just before Halloween. In Italy, it will be available from October 27 on Sky and NOW, thanks to the partnership between HBO and Sky Exclusive.

• Episode 1 – October 27, 2025;
• Episode 2 – November 3, 2025;
• Episode 3 – November 10, 2025;
• Episode 4 – November 17, 2025.

It: Welcome to Derry, where to watch it in Italy?

In Italy, the series will be broadcast exclusively by Sky and streamed on NOW. Episodes will be available in original language with subtitles and subsequently dubbed into Italian, following the classic weekly programming of HBO series.

How many episodes does It: Welcome to Derry have?

The first season will consist of eight episodes, released weekly starting from October 26, 2025. Each episode will explore a fragment of Derry's dark history, as the figure of the primordial evil that has haunted the city for centuries takes shape.

The trailer for It: Welcome to Derry

The poster for It: Welcome to Derry

Want to catch up on the films? It and It: Chapter Two are available on Amazon.