Stephen King Shares His Thoughts After Watching IT: WELCOME TO DERRY Calling It "Terrifying"
October is shaping up to be a killer month for horror fans, and one of the most talked-about upcoming releases is HBO’s highly anticipated prequel series It: Welcome to Derry.
Set in Stephen King’s infamous haunted town, this show dives deeper into the sinister origins of Derry, Maine, long before the Losers’ Club ever faced off against Pennywise. And now, the King of Horror himself has seen it, and he’s giving it his terrifying stamp of approval.
The author revealed on Threads that he caught an early look at the new series and didn’t hold back his excitement, writing:
“WELCOME TO DERRY is amazing. First episode is terrifying.”
That’s an exciting endorsment. The fact that he singled out the first episode as “terrifying” suggests that this series isn’t holding back when it comes to scares.
It: Welcome to Derry isn’t a straightforward adaptation of King’s novel, it’s an original prequel that expands the mythology of the town and its ancient evil.
The story centers on Leroy and Charlotte Hanlon, who move to Derry in 1962, just as a young boy mysteriously vanishes. What begins as a tragic disappearance quickly spirals into something far darker as more children go missing and the couple discovers the horrifying truth about the town’s cursed history.
One of the most exciting returns for fans is Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, along with his “human” alter ego, Bob Gray.
There are also nods to the wider King universe, Chris Chalk stars as a young Dick Hallorann, from The Shining, and the series even teases a connection to Shawshank State Penitentiary.
From the footage in the trailers, it’s clear that HBO is going big with this one. The show’s visuals hint at everything from floating victims to a massive Paul Bunyan statue coming to life.
Fans of King’s lore are already speculating about how the series might explore the cosmic mythology behind Pennywise, including the turtle guardian Maturin and the mysterious evil that festers beneath Derry.
If King’s reaction is anything to go by, this prequel could be one of the most exciting horror shows in years. With his blessing, fans can rest assured that the story is in wickedly good hands.
IT: Welcome to Derry premieres on HBO and will be available to stream on Max starting Sunday, October 26, just in time to make your Halloween a little more horrifying.
