Stephen King fans rejoice: IT prequel series Welcome to Derry just landed a release window.
As reported by Collider, Welcome to Derry will arrive on the relaunched HBO Max platform, Max, at some point in 2024. The hotly-anticipated show was one of several high-profile properties referenced in Warner Bros. Discovery's Max announcement, with its 2024 debut presumably unveiled as a way of building momentum ahead of Max's expected mid-2023 go-live date.
The news that HBO Max had officially ordered a season's worth of Welcome to Derry episodes first broke in February 2023. Little is known about the plot of the series at this stage, however, it will reportedly take place in the same universe as director Andy Muschietti's two IT films, which are themselves inspired by King's 1986 novel of the same name. Muschietti is on board to develop the project, alongside his producing partner (and sister) Barbara Muschietti and IT: Chapter Two producer Jason Fuchs. King himself is not directly involved with the production, although he expressed support for Welcome to Derry when it was announced.
Who Will Play Pennywise in Welcome to Derry?
Another key figure from the franchise's history who won't be taking part in Welcome to Derry is actor Bill Skarsgård. The Swedish star recently confirmed that he doesn't expect to reprise the role of demonic shapeshifter Pennywise the Dancing Clown, before offering up some words of wisdom for the performer that succeeds him. "If someone else gets to do [the Pennywise role], my advice would be: Do it your own [way]. Make it your own. Have fun with it," Skarsgård said. "What I found pleasurable about that character is how abstract he was... if someone would take it on, just go through the book and find all the clues [about Pennywise]. They're so out there that you can kind of make your own conclusions to them."
While Skarsgård won't be returning to Derry, several other actors are already gearing up to visit the fictional U.S. town. They include Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk and James Remar, all of whom have apparently been cast in as-yet-undisclosed Welcome to Derry roles. Paige and Adepo have reportedly signed on as series regulars, however, the size and frequency of Chalk and Remar's respective levels of involvement are still unclear. Adepo's casting is especially notable, as he previously starred in another Stephen King adaptation, The Stand, which aired on CBS All Access in 2022.
Welcome to Derry is slated to premiere on Max sometime in 2024.
Source: Collider