Pennywise the Dancing Clown set to return as HBO renews IT: Welcome to Derry for Season 2: Story, release timeline and what to expect

HBO has officially renewed “IT: Welcome to Derry” for Season 2, bringing Pennywise and the dark history of Derry back for another chapter. The Stephen King prequel series will return with a story set decades before the events of the 2017 and 2019 “IT” films.

The renewal confirms HBO’s continued commitment to expanding the world created by Stephen King. “IT: Welcome to Derry” is based on King’s 1986 novel “It” and expands the mythology established in Andy Muschietti’s two-part film adaptation. The series is produced by HBO and Warner Bros. Television, with Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and other key creatives involved.

What does Season 2 mean for the IT universe?

The Season 2 renewal gives HBO an opportunity to explore parts of Stephen King’s “It” mythology that could not be fully covered in the films. The creators have previously discussed a broader plan involving different historical periods in Derry, allowing the series to move further back into the town’s past.


For fans, the 1935 setting means that “IT: Welcome to Derry” Season 2 will not simply repeat the first season’s story. Instead, it will use another period of Derry’s history to examine the origins, cycles and consequences of the supernatural evil that has haunted the town.

IT: Welcome to Derry Season 2 story

Unlike the first season, which was set in 1962, “IT: Welcome to Derry” Season 2 will move back to 1935, during the Great Depression. The season will focus on the infamous Bradley Gang massacre, an event connected to Derry’s violent history in Stephen King’s novel.

According to the official Season 2 logline, the story follows the Bradley Gang, a group of bank robbers who stop in Derry to purchase ammunition but encounter an unimaginable horror. The storyline is expected to further explore the supernatural evil that has haunted the town for generations.


The decision to move the story backward in time follows the structure envisioned by the creators. Season 2 will reportedly explore another cycle of Pennywise’s presence in Derry while introducing new characters and younger versions of characters connected to the first season.

Pennywise returns in Season 2

One of the biggest questions surrounding the new season is the return of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Bill Skarsgård played the terrifying character in the first season and previously portrayed Pennywise in the “IT” films.

While full casting details for Season 2 have not been announced, the story will continue to explore the origins and mythology surrounding the entity known as It. Barbara Muschietti has also indicated that Skarsgård could return, although HBO has yet to confirm the complete cast.

Why is IT: Welcome to Derry Season 2 set in 1935?

The move to 1935 is significant because it takes viewers 27 years before the events of the first season. The backward-moving timeline allows the series to explore different periods in Derry's history and reveal more about the recurring evil associated with the town.


The Bradley Gang massacre is one of the historical events referenced in King’s “It,” making it a natural storyline for the prequel series. The first season similarly drew from historical events and material surrounding Derry that appeared in the novel.

When did IT: Welcome to Derry premiere?

“IT: Welcome to Derry” premiered on October 26, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max. The series serves as a prequel to Muschietti’s “IT” and “IT Chapter Two,” while expanding the mythology of King’s original novel.

The series gives viewers a deeper look at Derry, the fictional Maine town at the center of King’s story, and examines the events and characters that shaped its long history of violence and supernatural horror.

HBO has not yet announced a premiere date for Season 2. However, with the renewal now official, further details about the cast, production schedule and release plans are expected to emerge as development progresses.