IT: Welcome To Derry—The Full Story: Release Date, Season 2 Updates, And The Three-Season Plan
The wait is finally over: The highly anticipated Stephen King prequel series, IT: Welcome to Derry, has officially premiered and concluded its first terrifying season. As of today, December 23, 2025, the entire first season is available for streaming, having kicked off its run on October 26, 2025. This means the immediate question of "when does Welcome to Derry come out" has been answered with a definitive "it's already here," and the focus has now shifted entirely to the show's massive success and the future of the three-season plan. The first season dove deep into the unsettling history of Derry, Maine, setting the stage for the horrors that would eventually birth the Losers’ Club.
The series, which serves as a chilling prequel to Andy Muschietti’s blockbuster IT films (2017 and 2019), was an immediate hit, drawing massive viewership to the HBO platform. The show’s creators, including the Muschietti siblings and writer Jason Fuchs, have confirmed their ambitious, multi-season vision, meaning the story of Pennywise’s earliest encounters with the town of Derry is far from over. Fans are now clamoring for the next chapter, which is already deep into development and pre-production.
The Complete Dossier: IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 Details
IT: Welcome to Derry is a supernatural horror television series based on the seminal 1986 novel It by Stephen King. The show is a direct prequel, exploring the terrifying events that occurred in the cursed town of Derry, Maine, decades before the original Losers’ Club faced Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
Key Production and Cast Information
- Title: IT: Welcome to Derry
- Genre: Supernatural Horror, Prequel Series
- Platform: HBO
- Season 1 Premiere Date: October 26, 2025
- Season 1 Finale Date: December 2025
- Creators/Executive Producers: Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs
- Director (Pilot/Multiple Episodes): Andy Muschietti
Main Cast and Characters
The first season introduced a new ensemble of characters whose lives are tragically intertwined with the entity known as "It."
- Bill Skarsgård: Reprises his iconic role as Pennywise the Dancing Clown (The Entity "It")
- Taylour Paige: Charlotte Hanlon (A new key character in Derry's history)
- Jovan Adepo: Leroy Hanlon (Charlotte's relative, a new character)
- Chris Chalk: Dick Hallorann (A younger version of the character from The Shining, who shares a psychic connection to the supernatural)
- Clara Stack: Lilly (One of the children who encounters the entity)
- Stephen Rider: Officer Bob Gray (A character whose tragic backstory is explored)
- Madeleine Stowe: A new, undisclosed adult character, adding star power to the ensemble.
Synopsis of Season 1
The inaugural season is set primarily in the 1960s, a time period subtly hinted at in the original novel and films as a particularly active cycle for Pennywise. The plot focuses on the rising tensions and supernatural occurrences in Derry, leading up to the events of 1989 (the setting for the 2017 film). The narrative explores the deep-rooted corruption and cyclical violence of the town, which is a physical manifestation of "It's" influence. Crucially, the season delved into the tragic backstory of characters like Bob Gray and Ingrid Kersh, revealing how "It" lures its victims and solidifies its hold on the town over generations. The season finale provided a satisfying, yet terrifying, climax, setting the stage for the next phase of the entity's reign of terror.
The Latest on IT: Welcome to Derry Season 2 Release and Timeline
With the success of Season 1, the immediate focus has shifted to the confirmed future of the franchise. Fans should know that while the first season has concluded, the creators have a definitive, multi-year plan for the series.
Production Status and Filming Schedule
While an official, network-issued renewal announcement is often a formality after a show's success, the creators have been transparent about their intentions and the next steps. Season 2 is reportedly already in pre-production, with a clear timeline for principal photography.
- Season 2 Filming Start: March 2026
- Filming Location: Toronto, Canada
- Estimated Season 2 Release Window: Given the extensive post-production required for a horror series of this scale, a late 2026 or early 2027 release window is the most likely scenario, though no official date has been set.
The Muschietti siblings are keen to maintain the high production value and cinematic feel of the first season, meaning the production timeline will be meticulous. The delay between seasons is a necessary evil to ensure the quality of the visual effects and the depth of the storyline remain consistent with the Stephen King source material.
The Ambitious Three-Season Plan and Plot Speculation
One of the most exciting revelations for Constant Readers and horror fans alike is the confirmation that IT: Welcome to Derry is envisioned as a three-season arc. This structure allows the creative team to fully explore the vast, multi-generational history of Pennywise and the town of Derry, which the feature films could only hint at.
The Chronological Blueprint
Director Andy Muschietti has confirmed the long-term vision for the prequel series, which will explore different time periods in Derry’s past, creating a rich tapestry of terror that directly precedes the Losers’ Club era.
- Season 1: Set primarily in the 1960s, focusing on new characters and the build-up to the 1989 events.
- Season 2: Reportedly planned to be set in the 1930s or 1935. This time jump would allow the series to explore an entirely new cycle of "It's" feeding, potentially delving into the history of the Black Spot or other major tragic events in Derry’s history. The 1930s setting would also introduce new historical context for the town's pervasive evil.
- Season 3: While the exact time period is yet to be confirmed, the final season of the prequel is expected to tie directly into the events of the 2017 film, perhaps showing the final moments before the first Losers' Club encounter with Pennywise. This season will complete the narrative bridge between the prequel series and the two films.
The Return of Pennywise and The Entity's Power
Bill Skarsgård’s return as Pennywise is a cornerstone of the series' success. The prequel allows the writers to explore the entity's true nature and terrifying abilities beyond just the iconic clown form. Season 1 already hinted at Pennywise’s non-chronological view of time, a concept crucial to the novel that suggests the entity is aware of past and future events simultaneously.
Season 2, set in the 1930s, will likely explore the following topical entities and storylines:
- Bob Gray's Origin: While Season 1 introduced the character, Season 2 is expected to dig deeper into the actual transformation or corruption of Bob Gray into a vessel of "It's" power.
- The Black Spot: The tragic 1930s fire at the Black Spot, a nightclub frequented by Black soldiers, is a major historical event in the novel. A 1935 setting would perfectly align with the exploration of this horrific event, which is a key example of "It's" influence on the town's violence and racism.
- Ingrid Kersh: More exploration of the Ingrid Kersh storyline, a character whose life is tragically linked to the entity's history, is anticipated.
- The Losers' Club Connection: Though the Losers' Club is not the focus, the series is expected to gradually introduce elements that will resonate with their later story, such as the subtle origins of their fears and the town's collective amnesia.
In summary, the question of "when does Welcome to Derry come out" has transitioned from a future anticipation to a current reality. The first season is a must-watch, and the future of the series is bright, with a clear path laid out for two more seasons of deep, Stephen King-inspired horror, starting with Season 2 filming in March 2026.
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