HBO’s new upcoming series,It: Welcome To Derry, is set to compete against the network’s most successful horror show ever released.It: Welcome To Derryserves as the prequel to Stephen King’s acclaimed 1986 horror novel and allows an exploration into theterrifying origins of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, an entity who emerges from the darkness every 27 years.
It: Welcome To Derryis one ofseveral Stephen King adaptations set for release in 2025, and is set in 1962, five years before the events ofIt. HBO’s series sees a young boy disappear from the town of Derry, Maine, and the frightening circumstances that take place as the investigation into his disappearance darkens.
Thecast ofIt: Welcome To Derryincludes Bill Skarsgård reprising his acclaimed role of Pennywise the Dancing Clown.Pennywise’s new form inIt: Welcome To Derryhas been revealed, and he proves to be just as monstrous as ever. These early images hint thatIt: Welcome to Derrycould overthrowThe Last of Usas HBO’s best horror series.
IT: Welcome To Derry Could Surpass The Last Of Us As HBO’s Best Ongoing Horror Show
The Last Of Us Was Released In 2023
Theofficial trailer forIt: Welcome to Derrywas released in May 2025, depicting a group of children investigating murders in the town of Derry, Maine. As their investigation progresses, the children begin experiencing supernatural phenomena, while a new family that has just moved in is also affected by the lingering terrors.
It: Welcome to Derry’strailer indicates that it has the potential to be just as terrifying asThe Last ofUs. Adapted from the video game franchise,The Last of Usdepicts two survivors of an apocalypse, Joe and Ellie, traveling across America, fighting against zombies. Season 1 ofThe Last of Usis consideredone of HBO’s best horror shows, due to its blend of sci-fi and terror and emotional depth.
The Last of Us (Season 1)
2023
9
93%
62%
The Last of Us (Season 2)
2025
7
91%
37%
Although season 1 was considered the best video game TV adaptation ever produced,The Last of Usseason 2 wasn’t as successful.Viewers criticizedThe Last of Usseason 2’sslow pacing and lack of character development.The Last Of Usseason 3 is confirmed for 2027, butIt: Welcome To Derrycould see it surpassTLOUas HBO’s best horror series.
One Of HBO’s Best Horror Shows Of All Time Is Already A Stephen King Adaptation
The Outsider Is Considered One Of The Best Stephen King Shows
The potential success ofIt: Welcome To Derryis helped by the fact that HBO has already released a successful TV series adaptation of another of Stephen King’s books. In 2020, HBO’s miniseries,The Outsider, follows Detective Ralph Anderson investigating the murder of a young boy in Georgia.
The Outsideris consideredone of the best horror miniseries ever created, due to its perfect blend of supernatural, drama, and suspense, its bleak and dense atmosphere, and character development. The series has a high score of 91% onRotten Tomatoesand has been praised by Stephen King himself as one of the best adaptations of his works.
Despiteseveral changes fromThe Outsidernovel, the success of the 2020 miniseries means HBO has proven itself the right company to produce another adaptation of King’s works. HBO’s capability for stellar casting and finding the right mix of horror and drama, while remaining faithful to the original story, bodes well forIt: Welcome To Derry.
IT: Welcome To Derry’s 3-Season Plan Can Maintain Its HBO Dominance
It Has Been Hinted That The Series May Be Expanded Further
It: Welcome To Derryseason 1 is scheduled to be released in October 2025, and will run for nine episodes.Stephen King was deeply involved inIt: Welcome To Derry’sproduction, with the series' co-creator, Andy Muschietti, stating that King trusted HBO with handling the script and how the production team planned to progress with the series.
While there are no official renewals, there are current plans forIt: Welcome To Derryto run for at least three seasons. According to Muschietti (viaBloody Disgusting), the series is planned to take place in three different eras with 27 years between them; 1962, 1935, and 1908, with “a catastrophic event that happens at the beginning of that cycle.”
The plans forIt: Welcome To Derryshow that the upcoming series will follow King’s lore for the length of Pennywise’s appearances and will allow viewers to glimpse even further into the past, offering a full exploration of Pennywise’s transformation into the Dancing Clown. The series is also set tobreak a six-year adaptation streak surrounding Stephen King’s works.
It: Welcome To Derryhas all the right material to become one of the best Stephen King TV adaptations ever made. If the series matches up to the official trailer, it could potentially overthrowThe Last of Usas HBO’s best horror TV series.
Sources:Rotten Tomatoes,Bloody Disgusting,
It: Welcome to Derry
IT: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the IT films, exploring the origins of Pennywise the Clown. Set in the 1960s, this installment dives into the backdrop of Derry, unveiling the dark history and circumstances surrounding the infamous creature.
