HBO Max is working on a new series called IT: Welcome to Derry, which is a prequel to the IT movies. The show takes place in the 1960s in the town of Derry and features a new group of kids who come face-to-face with Pennywise. It will explore the backstory of Pennywise, something not covered in the films.
Although the series has a new cast, it will follow a similar storyline to the original, with the kids confronting a scary villain. Rich Delia, the casting director who also worked on the IT films, talked about how challenging it was to find new actors to play the children, especially since the original cast has had successful careers. He mentioned that the solid writing and the dedication of directors Andy and Barbara Muschietti were important for the casting. Delia also revealed that not all of the new child characters will make it through the series.
Dalia said, “It was incredible. Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who are the masterminds behind the universe, are two of my favorite people to work with. They’re absolutely incredible. And I was lucky enough to cast It and It: Chapter 2 with them. So, I had experience finding a group of losers already, and this was a challenge. Because I think, if I may say so myself, I think the original cast of losers are such beautiful young actors who have all gone on to do amazing things. And I love casting them so much.”
We don’t have a specific release date yet, but the show is expected to air sometime in 2025. Bill Skarsgård will return as Pennywise, joined by actors like Taylour Paige, James Remar, Madeleine Stowe, Jovan Adepo, Peter Outerbridge, and Tyner Rushing.
Delia shared a story about Skarsgård’s audition for Pennywise, saying he was genuinely scared even without the costume, showing how well Skarsgård can portray the terrifying character. This builds excitement for his return. The original Pennywise was played by Tim Curry in a miniseries in 1990.
The new series aims to expand the IT universe, giving viewers fresh insights into Pennywise and Derry. It will reveal new aspects of the story while keeping the spooky feel of the previous films.
