HBO Max Releases It: Welcome To Derry Episode 2 Early For Halloween

HBO’s horror drama series It: Welcome To Derry, a prequel set in Stephen King’s "It" universe and developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, will release its second episode early on October 31 to celebrate Halloween, before continuing its Sunday schedule on HBO and HBO Max. The series, which explores the town of Derry in 1962 amidst mysterious child disappearances, stars Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise and features a new cast including Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige. It emphasizes a nightmarish tone and strong character development, particularly among the children, aiming to build on the vision established in the previous It films. The showrunner team, including Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane, has focused on creating a suspenseful and shocking opening to immerse viewers in the perilous world of Derry. The series blends period Americana with horror, leveraging the popularity of the films to attract viewers to HBO Max for a long-form story. Critical attention highlights the show’s effective tension and character work, setting a high bar for horror storytelling on television.