A cursed town. A clown that feeds on fear. HBO has released It: Welcome to Derry today on October 26, 2025. It is the prequel to the hit It films and it takes us back to 1962 Derry, Maine.
This show goes deep into the roots of Pennywise the Dancing Clown and why the town itself feels haunted from every corner.
Key Takeaways
- The story is set in 1962 and shows the early horrors of Derry
- Bill Skarsgård is back as Pennywise with a new and more scary look
- Season 1 has eight episodes and starts a planned trilogy
- Episodes will release weekly every Sunday till December 14, 2025
- The show mixes fear, mystery, and dark history of the town
A Dark Look at Derry
The movies focused on the Losers Club. This series focuses on the town and how the fear cycle started. A family comes to Derry, a child goes missing and a silent panic grows in the streets. The show takes ideas from the book parts called Interludes.
They show how Derry always lived with secrets and people who never questioned why fear returns again and again.
Bill Skarsgård comes with a stronger and more shocking version of Pennywise. Many fans on X are calling the first episode jaw dropping and hard to watch at times because of the scares.
The show also touches the human side of fear like loss and hate that grows inside a community. The makers plan a full trilogy. Season 2 will go back to 1935. That time the evil may look even more powerful.
Where and When to Watch – It Welcome to Derry
United States: October 26 at 9 PM ET/PT on HBO and Max
India: October 27 on JioHotstar
UK: October 27 at 2 AM GMT on Sky Max/NowTV. Repeat at 9 PM
Global Timings:
Brazil: 10 PM Oct 26
India: 6:30 AM Oct 27
Australia: 11 AM Oct 27
Episodes release every Sunday. Final episode airs on December 14.
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Arrival | Oct 26, 2025 | 54 min |
| 2 | Halloween Shadows | Nov 2, 2025 | 66 min |
| 3 | The Black Spot | Nov 9, 2025 | 58 min |
| 4 | Whispers in the Sewers | Nov 16, 2025 | 62 min |
| 5 | Cycle Begins | Nov 23, 2025 | 55 min |
What Makes Fans Excited
- Pennywise is back and looks more scary than before. The trailer crossed 50M views
- Strong 1960s look with old ads, street visuals, school life and dark wet sewers
- Horror scenes connect with personal fears of each character
- Cast includes Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige along with talented young actors
- Stephen King praised it by saying it looks darker and deeper than he imagined
Some viewers feel the start is slow. A few also feel the civil rights story tied to the Black Spot pulls attention from horror. Others say it makes the evil in Derry look more real because fear also comes from society.
Why You Should Watch – It Welcome to Derry
It: Welcome to Derry shows how fear controls a town and how Pennywise uses that fear. The show has a strong time setting, shocking scenes and a cast that makes every moment feel real.
Social media is full of #PennywiseReturns. People are already saying this is the biggest horror release of the year.
If you love horror or Stephen King stories, this one is a must watch. Get ready for a long and scary ride. Just remember one thing. In Derry, nothing stays quiet for long. And nothing stays buried.
