HBO renews Stephen King prequel It: Welcome to Derry for second season
HBO has renewed the Stephen King prequel series It: Welcome to Derry for a second season. The show, which premiered last year, became one of HBO Max’s four biggest global debuts. Created by the Muschietti brothers, the series explores the history of the cursed town of Derry. Season one, set in 1962, features a military effort to weaponize the supernatural entity. The renewal confirms the creators' intent to continue the narrative.
Key points
- HBO has officially renewed the horror series It: Welcome to Derry for a second season, extending the story of the cursed Maine town.
- The series, created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, serves as a prequel to the 2017 and 2019 It films and premiered last year.
- It: Welcome to Derry is one of the four biggest series debuts in HBO Max history globally, driving the decision to continue the show.
- Season one is set in 1962, twenty-seven years before the first film, and depicts a military attempt to understand and weaponize the entity.
- The cast includes Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon, and Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann.
- The renewal aligns with the creators' stated plans to explore the town's past further, following a strong year for horror media.
HBO has confirmed the renewal of its Stephen King adaptation It: Welcome to Derry for a second season. The announcement follows the show's strong performance since its premiere last year, establishing it as one of the four most-watched series debuts in the history of HBO Max globally. The renewal allows the production to continue exploring the dark history of the fictional Maine town, a narrative arc the creators have long intended to pursue.
Created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the series functions as a prequel to the 2017 film It and its 2019 sequel. The first season, set in 1962, shifts the timeline twenty-seven years prior to the events of the original movie. It introduces a new group of children investigating local disappearances while simultaneously following a military initiative aimed at understanding and potentially weaponizing the supernatural entity known as Pennywise. Key characters in this era include Leroy Hanlon, played by Jovan Adepo, his sister Charlotte, portrayed by Taylour Paige, and Dick Hallorann, played by Chris Chalk.
The renewal is not unexpected given the show's commercial success and the creators' public statements about the story's potential. The decision places the series within a broader trend of successful horror adaptations in 2026, which includes other high-profile releases. By moving into a second season, HBO commits to further expanding the lore of King’s universe, focusing on the origins of the curse that has plagued Derry for decades.
Sources
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