Imagine your worst nightmare… now imagine it wears clown makeup. Pennywise, the shape-shifting terror from Stephen King's IT, has haunted our dreams for decades, and now he's back with a vengeance in the new HBO Original series, It: Welcome to Derry. But just how much nightmare fuel are we in for? Let's dive into the episode count and everything else you need to know to survive this terrifying trip back to Derry, Maine.
King's 1986 novel IT, a behemoth of horror storytelling, has already spawned several adaptations, from the classic 90s miniseries to the blockbuster films of the 2010s. It: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel, digging into the town's dark history long before the Losers' Club faced their fears.
The new series has strong ties to the recent films, which helped reignite the Pennywise panic. Andy Muschietti, the director behind It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019), is also at the helm of Welcome to Derry. And yes, Bill Skarsgård is back to reprise his chilling portrayal of Pennywise! He continues to deliver the stuff of nightmares as the child-devouring clown. But here's where it gets controversial... some argue that Skarsgård's interpretation is too terrifying, overshadowing the more subtle, psychological horror of the original novel. What do you think?
Welcome to Derry takes us all the way back to 1962, nearly three decades before the events of the 2017 film. This means we get to witness Pennywise's reign of terror in a whole new era, exploring the roots of the evil that plagues Derry. The series promises to explore new characters and storylines, enriching the already expansive IT universe. And this is the part most people miss... the series has the potential to provide a deeper understanding of Pennywise's origins and motivations, something the films only touched upon.
So, how many episodes are in It: Welcome to Derry?
The first season consists of eight episodes in total. New episodes are released weekly on Sundays on HBO and HBO Max, running from late October through December 14th. Mark your calendars, because you won't want to miss a single terrifying moment!
Here's a complete episode guide:
- Episode 1: Sunday, October 26
- Episode 2: Sunday, November 2
- Episode 3: Sunday, November 9
- Episode 4: Sunday, November 16
- Episode 5: Sunday, November 23
- Episode 6: Sunday, November 30
- Episode 7: Sunday, December 7
- Episode 8: Sunday, December 14
Will there be an It: Welcome to Derry Season 2?
It's too early to say for sure, as HBO hasn't officially announced a second season. However, the show's impressive debut – the third-largest series premiere in HBO Max history with 5.7 million viewers in just three days – strongly suggests that a renewal is likely. Numbers like that are hard to ignore! Could we see the series explore events after the 2017 movie, perhaps focusing on the lasting impact of Pennywise on Derry? Only time will tell.
Meet the Residents (and Terrors) of Derry:
Here's a rundown of the key players in It: Welcome to Derry:
- Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise (of course!)
- Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon
- Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon
- Chris Chalk as Dick Halloran
- James Remar as General Shaw
- Kimberly Guerrero as Rose
- Stephen Rider as Hank
- Madeline Stowe as Ingrid
- Rudy Mancuso as Pauly
- Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon
- Miles Ekhardt as Matty
- Clara Stack as Lily
- Amanda Christine as Ronnie
- Mikkal Karim-Fidler as Teddy
- Jack Molloy Legault as Phil
- Matilda Lawler as Marge
How to Watch *It: Welcome to Derry*
If you're ready to face your fears, you can stream It: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max. A subscription with ads starts at $10.99 per month, while an ad-free experience will cost you $18.49 per month.
For even more streaming options and potential savings, consider bundling Disney+ with Hulu and HBO Max. The bundle with ads is $19.99 per month, and the ad-free version is $32.99 per month. This is a great way to access a wide range of content while saving money.
So, are you ready to return to Derry? With eight episodes of chilling suspense and a deep dive into the town's horrifying history, It: Welcome to Derry promises to be a must-watch for horror fans. Will the series live up to the legacy of Stephen King's masterpiece? And more importantly, will you be able to sleep with the lights off after watching? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
