HBO Renews It Prequel Series Welcome to Derry for Season 2

The horror genre has enjoyed strong momentum lately. Obsession became a breakout hit in 2026, Backrooms delivered substantial box-office returns, and smaller projects such as Hokum found dedicated viewers. Now, HBO has officially renewed It: Welcome to Derry for a second season, pushing the Stephen King adaptation further into the past.

The renewal comes after a massive launch. Since its debut last year, Welcome to Derry has ranked among the top four global series debuts on HBO Max. Co-creators Andy and Barbara Muschietti have consistently expressed interest in chronicling earlier chapters of Derry’s history.

What It: Welcome to Derry Covers

The series acts as a direct prequel to Andy Muschietti’s feature adaptations, It and It: Chapter Two. The first season takes place in 1962, set 27 years prior to the events of the 2017 film. As a new group of children investigates bizarre disappearances, Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), Charlotte Hanlon (Taylour Paige), and Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) become entangled in a military project hoping to study and harness the entity beneath the town. Bill Skarsgård portrays Pennywise once again.

The television runtime gives the narrative room to dig into community-wide corruption caused by the monster. In Polygon’s season 1 review, the show was called “the best, scariest It story yet,” receiving acclaim for its expanded worldbuilding and ensemble performances. The opening season also echoed the coming-of-age style found in the 2017 movie and early seasons of Stranger Things.

What to Expect in Season 2

The next installment jumps back another 27 years to 1935, placing the narrative in the middle of the Great Depression. According to HBO, the plot centers on the Bradley Gang, a group of bank robbers who visit Derry to buy ammunition and run into local violence orchestrated by the town’s evil force.

The Bradley Gang shootout comes straight from King’s original novel, where it stands as one of several historical massacres marking Pennywise’s periodic awakenings. Season 1 foreshadowed the storyline in its opening credits sequence and through an antique vehicle Hallorann discovers.

HBO has not announced a release date or confirmed casting details for season 2, including whether Skarsgård will return to play Pennywise.

Source: Polygon