HBO Max Invites It Fans to Derry to Unveil Pennywise's Dark Past
A killer clown goes back in time to tell us his terrifying tale.
Creepy clown lovers, we have some great news for you. Even though we're moving on with the It franchise after It Chapter Two received a lot of criticism, we've been given the opportunity to return to Derry! HBO Max has announced a prequel series called Welcome to Derry, which will focus on the events that took place before Georgie fell into the stinking gutter.
We don't have many details yet, including release date and plot, but according to the books, Derry and Pennywise have a rich history together that goes back hundreds of years and consists of tons of great and scary stories just waiting to be fleshed out.
The shape-shifting clown has been killing children in Derry for centuries, and that is just a small part of the picture that will be expanded upon in the upcoming series.
What we do know is that the project has been in development since March 2022 by the creators of It and It Chapter Two – Andres Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. Considering that Andres Muschietti co-produced the horror Mama and The Flash, fans' expectations are very high.
However, few people could resist making some Derry Girls jokes, referring to another massively popular show set in Derry.
Fans can't help but read the made-up lines in Derry Girls characters' voices.
However, the upcoming prequel will be no place for jokes. The runners promise to expand the world of Derry, bringing new stories, characters and meanings (and more red balloons, of course).
"As teenagers, we took turns reading chapters of Stephen King 's It until the thick paperback fell to pieces. It is an epic story that contains multitudes, far beyond what we could explore in our It movies. We can't wait to share the depths of Steve's novel, in all its heart, humor, humanity and horror," the Muschiettis said in a statement.
Stephen King adaptations have had their ups and downs. He's one of the most adapted horror writers of all time, with his books providing the basis for films and TV series since the 1970s. Some of them deservedly became classics like Carrie and The Shining, others flopped and were quickly forgotten like The Dark Tower. However, given the success of the first It film and the filmmakers' remarkable filmography, fans dare to hope for the best.