Welcome to Derry Trailer Debuts — Pennywise Returns in HBO’s Terrifying IT Prequel Series
The first chilling glimpse into HBO’s Welcome to Derry has arrived. A teaser trailer for the nine-episode prequel to Andy Muschietti’s IT films has just dropped, and it promises a return to the dread-filled streets of Derry, Maine. With its eerie visuals, cryptic dialogue, and a brief but menacing shot of that familiar red balloon, the trailer sets the tone for what could be one of horror television’s most haunting releases of 2025.
Set to premiere on HBO Max in October 2025, the series will explore the dark origins of Pennywise the Dancing Clown—one of modern horror’s most iconic villains.
Trailer Breakdown: Red Balloons and Rising Terror
The trailer opens with vintage Americana—a calm, smiling town with a ticking undercurrent of unease. As the music warps and fades, subtle references to missing children and a town hiding secrets begin to unravel. Then, that balloon. Red, rising, unstoppable.
Though brief, the trailer gives enough to remind fans of what made IT so unsettling. It also confirms Bill Skarsgård’s return as Pennywise, though his appearance is saved for maximum impact. The teaser ends with his unmistakable growl and a flash of yellow eyes in the shadows.
Watch the Trailer:
Welcome to Derry is set in 1962, a full 27 years before the events of IT: Chapter One. Drawing inspiration from Mike Hanlon’s interludes in Stephen King’s original novel, the series aims to explore the horrifying history of the cursed town and the entity that emerges every generation to feed on fear.
Behind the scenes, the series is backed by many of the creatives who helped bring IT (2017) and IT: Chapter Two (2019) to life. Andy Muschietti directs several episodes and serves as executive producer, ensuring visual continuity with the films.
Jason Fuchs (co-writer of Wonder Woman) and Brad Caleb Kane (Crystal Lake) are onboard as co-showrunners. Fuchs also wrote the teleplay for the series’ pilot episode.
Star-Studded Cast Returns to Derry
The cast includes:
- Taylour Paige (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F)
- Jovan Adepo (The Stand)
- Chris Chalk (Gotham)
- James Remar (Dexter)
- Madeleine Stowe (Revenge)
- Stephen Rider (Daredevil)
With Bill Skarsgård back as Pennywise, fans can expect the same menacing energy that made his portrayal so unforgettable. Additional cast members like Chad Rook, Peter Outerbridge, and Rudy Mancuso round out a diverse ensemble sure to bring Derry to life—and death.
IT’s Expanding Universe
First introduced in Stephen King’s massive 1986 novel, IT has long been a staple of horror fiction. While the original 1990 miniseries remains a cult favorite, it was Muschietti’s two-part cinematic adaptation that truly redefined Pennywise for modern audiences—collectively grossing over $1 billion worldwide.
Welcome to Derry is the franchise’s first foray into serialized storytelling and HBO appears to be betting big on its success. Muschietti has already teased future seasons that would take place in 1935 and 1908, each diving even further into Derry’s haunted legacy.
With this first trailer, HBO has set the tone for Welcome to Derry as an unsettling journey into the past—one where balloons don’t bring joy, and clowns never make you laugh. As October 2025 creeps closer, horror fans now have every reason to get excited… and terrified.
