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Excitement is building for the Stephen King adaptation Welcome to Derry, which is earning acclaim and weaving in references from other Stephen King works. Following the premiere, the broadcaster has revealed that episode two will debut sooner than expected, timed perfectly for the spookiest night.

Early Release Information

Starting on the last day of October at 3 a.m. EST, the next part of It: Welcome to Derry will premiere on HBO Max, before its linear broadcast. The remaining installments of the show's first season will be released on the weekend on both HBO and its streaming arm, leading up to the final episode on the 14th of December.

Series Overview

Based in Stephen King’s It universe, the new series is inspired by King’s iconic novel while building upon the universe established by director Andy Muschietti in It and It Chapter Two. The first It movie focused on kids and teens facing terrifying threats, making it appropriate that the prequel upholds that legacy. Yet, the first installment of HBO’s Welcome to Derry demonstrates it set out to increase the tension, delivering heightened horror than the cinematic versions and setting a harsh vibe for the rest of the season.

Premise and Ideas

Located in the early '60s, the program presents a new generation of adults and children living in a seemingly idyllic town hiding a sinister core. This place follows a cruel, recurring cycle—one marked by aggression, prejudice, and paranormal events, as a monstrous presence resurfaces every 27 years. Even though Welcome to Derry might sound like it leans too heavily to the films on the surface, what distinguishes the streaming show is its two-sided viewpoint—narrated via the perspectives of kids and grown-ups concurrently. Younger characters stay especially susceptible to the monster's horror, but grown-ups aren’t spared facing their personal demons arising from Derry’s deep-seated bigotry and lurking supernatural forces.

The series debuts on the 31st of October at 12 a.m. Pacific Time.