IT: Welcome to Derry release date, where to watch, what to expect, and more about the prequel to the horror film franchise

HBO and JioHotstar have been teasing IT fans for quite some time now with the upcoming horror show that claims to be the prequel to the IT film franchise. While the horror thriller was first released in 2017, the second chapter was released in 2019. Now, the makers have turned the Stephen King novel into a show titled IT: Welcome to Derry. The horror novel explored suspense, crime, science-fiction, fantasy, and mystery. For the unversed, there's also another IT series from 1990 that starred Tim Curry as the terrifying clown Pennywise, before Bill Skarsgård in the recent flicks.

When and where to watch IT: Welcome to Derry

IT: Welcome to Derry will be released in India on JioHotstar (also accessible via OTTplay Premium) on October 27, just a day after its premiere on HBO Max on October 26, 2025, in the US. The horror series consists of nine episodes in its first season, with future seasons planned to cover different time periods in Derry's history.

What to expect from IT: Welcome to Derry

Set in the 1960s, IT: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the IT film franchise, exploring the spooky history of the fictional town of Derry. The series will reveal how the terrifying clown Pennywise emerges and will also introduce us to the town's dark secrets before the events shown in the films. The series adapts parts of Stephen King's novel that fill in the backstory, especially the parts about earlier hauntings and a group called the Maine Legion of White Decency. Bill Skarsgård will return as Pennywise, and the story will touch on the racial tensions of the 1960s, adding a new layer.

The exciting part is that a new group of young characters will be introduced as they begin to sense the rising evil in the town. The plot involves racial tensions within the town, with some characters facing hostile neighbours as a Black family moves into the area. Welcome to Derry pulls the story from the detailed historical interludes that were found in Stephen King's novel, offering a deeper dive into Mike Hanlon's research of Derry's past.

ALSO READ: IT Welcome to Derry release date confirmed: When and where to watch HBO’s horror prequel online

IT: Welcome to Derry cast

Apart from Bill Skarsgård reprising his role, other cast members of the show include Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, and James Remar. The ensemble cast also features Stephen Ride and Madeleine Stowe in a recurring guest role.

FAQs:

Q. Where to watch IT: Welcome to Derry?

A. IT: Welcome to Derry will premiere on HBO Max on October 26 and on JioHotstar on October 27, 2025. It will also be accessible via OTTplay Premium.

Q. Who is the villain of IT: Welcome to Derry?

A. IT: Welcome to Derry will revolve around the haunting dancing clown, Pennywise, and will trace his origin story.

Q. Is IT: Welcome to Derry based on a novel?

A. Yes, IT: Welcome to Derry is based on Stephen King’s epic horror novel series.