IT: Welcome to Derry: The HBO Series Explained
A clear guide to IT: Welcome to Derry, including its 1962 prequel story, Season 1 episodes, characters, HBO Max availability and Season 2 updates.
IT: Welcome to Derry: The HBO Series Explained
IT: Welcome to Derry is HBO's horror prequel to the two Andy Muschietti IT movies. Its first season takes place in 1962, before the story of the Losers' Club, and returns to the Maine town where children vanish and an ancient, shape-shifting force exploits fear. It is a television series, not a new theatrical installment or a separate Stephen King novel.
Quick facts about the series
The series premiered on HBO on October 26, 2025, and concluded its eight-episode first season on December 14, 2025. The first season is available on HBO Max in the United States. It follows the arrival of military pilot Leroy Hanlon and his family as local children investigate frightening events. Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, connecting the show's visual continuity to the films.
The show was developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. Its approach combines supernatural terror with the social climate of early-1960s America. The Air Force base, the Hanlon family's experiences and the town's long history all matter, rather than making Pennywise the only subject of every scene.
What is the story about?
The disappearance of a child brings a loose group of young residents together to investigate what Derry's adults cannot or will not explain. Meanwhile, the military searches for a dangerous entity it hopes to control. Those parallel investigations expose how Derry's everyday failures—prejudice, secrecy and indifference—allow fear to spread.
The setting is one of the clearest differences from the films. The child protagonists are not simply younger versions of the Losers' Club: they have their own relationships and choices, and their losses shape the town's history. A separate guide breaks down how this prequel fits alongside the 2017 and 2019 films without confusing their timelines.
All eight Season 1 episode titles
The episodes in HBO's official order are: (1) The Pilot; (2) The Thing in the Dark; (3) Now You See It; (4) The Great Swirling Apparatus of Our Planet's Function; (5) 29 Neibolt Street; (6) In the Name of the Father; (7) The Black Spot; and (8) Winter Fire.
The titles are useful signposts, but they do not make every episode a self-contained monster-of-the-week story. Clues, relationships and recurring symbols pay off across the season. New viewers should start at Episode 1 rather than skipping straight to the finale based on a particular character's appearance.
Who appears in Welcome to Derry?
Jovan Adepo plays Leroy Hanlon, Taylour Paige plays Charlotte Hanlon and Blake Cameron James plays their son Will. Other important figures include Lilly Bainbridge, Ronnie Grogan, Marge Truman, Rich Santos, Dick Hallorann and General Shaw. These characters intersect with the children's investigation, the military response and the town's history in different ways.
Some identities carry major surprises that are best left for individual character pages. In particular, names such as Rich and Richie are easy to confuse; the show treats them as distinct people. Readers who want a spoiler-free introduction can focus on the initial family and friendship relationships before opening character explainers.
Is Season 2 happening?
Yes. HBO announced a second season on August 17, 2026. The planned setting moves farther into Derry's past, to 1935 and the Bradley Gang incident. A confirmed renewal does not mean a premiere date has been announced. Readers looking for casting, production progress and release timing should use the dedicated Season 2 update rather than assumptions based on the first season's schedule.
Is Welcome to Derry appropriate for children?
The U.S. rating is TV-MA. Horror violence, disturbing imagery, frightening scenes and strong language are central to the experience; the show also deals with racism and traumatic loss. A parents guide can help viewers decide whether to watch and which content may be particularly uncomfortable. The presence of children as protagonists does not make this children's programming.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a movie or TV show?
It is an HBO television series. The original IT films and this prequel occupy the same adaptation continuity, but the series has its own eight-episode first season.
Do you have to watch the films first?
No. Newcomers can follow the main 1962 mystery, although some names and references carry extra meaning after watching the films.
Where can Americans watch it?
HBO Max is the primary U.S. subscription destination for Season 1. Other legitimate purchase or channel options can change over time.
Explore related guides
Each of these pages answers a different question about the series:
Season 2 renewal and release updates