It: Welcome to Derry
Series, 2025, Derry, Set in 1962
It: Welcome to Derry is #41 of 42 in release order and #26 of 42 in chronological order in the Stephen King Universe.
The story
In 1962, amid a spate of unexplained disappearances of local children, a group of misfit friends begin to suspect a long-buried ancient evil lurking. As the kids set out to determine what's really going on, a rising unease prompts several townspeople to work together to restore peace – all while a U.S. military operation seeks to exploit Derry for its own objectives.
It: Welcome to Derry recap
It: Welcome to Derry (2025) is an HBO prequel to the It films, set in Derry, Maine, in 1962, when a family arrives just as a boy disappears. Season 1 has eight episodes, premiering on October 26, 2025, developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, with Bill Skarsgard returning as Pennywise. Air Force Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) is posted to the town's base with his wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige) and son Will (Blake Cameron James). Lilly Bainbridge (Clara Stack), dismissed as unstable, and Ronnie Grogan (Amanda Christine), whose projectionist father Hank (Stephen Rider) is blamed for the missing children, team up with Will and his friend Rich Santos (Arian Cartaya) to find the truth. Lieutenant General Francis Shaw (James Remar) wants to capture the entity as a weapon and uses a young airman with the shine, Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk), the cook of The Shining, to find it. They learn It is held in check by ancient pillars, and that Ingrid Kersh (Madeleine Stowe) has ties to Pennywise. Leroy is the grandfather of the films' Mike Hanlon.
It: Welcome to Derry ending explained
It: Welcome to Derry ends its first season, in the finale "Winter Fire", with It caged again and Shaw dead. Police chief Clint Bowers leads a mob that burns the Black Spot club, and Rich dies protecting Marge Truman. Pennywise takes Will and hypnotises the children, but they place a dagger that seals the entity. Ronnie leaves Derry with Hank after kissing Will, Hallorann goes off to work as a hotel chef, and Ingrid is institutionalised, where years later she meets Beverly Marsh. HBO renewed the show in August 2026; season 2 is set in 1935.
Where to watch It: Welcome to Derry
It: Welcome to Derry is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.9/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Running Man, before Carrie.
- Chronological order: after Carrie, before It.
What to watch before It: Welcome to Derry
In release order, the essentials before It: Welcome to Derry (2025) are It (1990), Dreamcatcher (2003), It (2017), and It Chapter Two (2019).
Cast
- Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon
- Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon
- James Remar as General Francis Shaw
- Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan
- Matilda Lawler as Marge Truman
- Amanda Christine as Ronnie Grogan
- Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge
- Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon
- Arian S. Cartaya as Rich Santos
- Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann
- Thomas Mitchell as Colonel Fuller
- Kimberly Guerrero as Rose
Created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs.