HBO Max Gives IT Prequel Welcome To Derry a Series Order

The IT franchise is officially coming to TV, with the HBO Max giving Welcome To Derry a series order. HBO Max announced that the Max Original Drama has received a series order, with Welcome To Derry listed as a working title.

The prequel to the IT films will see Andy Muschietti return to direct several episodes, including the premiere. Andy and Barbara Muschietti developed the show with Jason Fuchs (IT Chapter Two, Wonder Woman), with Fuchs writing the first episode. Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane will serve as co-showrunners on the project.

The show is described as follows:

Set in the world of Stephen King’s IT universe, WELCOME TO DERRY (wt) is based on King’s IT novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films IT and IT Chapter Two.

“We are thrilled to continue this iconic franchise with the brilliant Andy and Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs, and Brad Caleb Kane,” said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max. “This prequel will expand the IT storytelling canvas and bring fans deeper into the terrifying, mesmerizing town of Derry.”

Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti added, “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 IT films grossed $1.17 billion worldwide between the two entries and starred Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise alongside an ensemble cast including Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Jaeden Martell, Wyatt Oleff, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, and Jeremy Ray Taylor.