It Prequel Welcome to Derry Season 2 Just Landed Writers From Dark and Stranger Things, Report Says

Well, things are getting interesting behind the clown makeup at HBO. If you thought It: Welcome to Derry was just quietly creeping along toward a second season, hold onto your red balloons—word is, the show is recruiting some serious writing firepower. It’s honestly the kind of move that makes you pay attention, especially if you’re a fan of international mind-benders and small-town supernatural disasters.

Meet the (Reportedly) New Architects of Derry

Nothing is officially locked in from HBO yet, but here’s what’s circulating: according to Nexus Point News, several new writers are being tapped for season two, and they’re not exactly unknowns.

• Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar: If you’ve binged Dark or the doomed puzzle box 1899, you know these two bring major timeline shenanigans and oppressive atmosphere—honestly, a fun fit for Derry.
• Jessica Mecklenburg: She’s put in time on Stranger Things, so if you want someone who gets the mix of coming-of-age nostalgia and creeping terror, she’s your pick.
• John McCutcheon: Recent work? The Penguin. So, some gritty, grounded crime energy to go with your shapeshifting nightmare creature.
• Donald Joh: Credits include Invasion and Snowpiercer—more proof this season could pull in a broader, weirder mix of sci-fi and suspense.
• Tara Shivkumar: Less well-known but apparently joining the party, too.

Again, this all comes from reports—the new writers haven’t been officially announced, and HBO is still sitting on a formal season two confirmation (gotta love the way studios play peekaboo with news these days).

Derry’s Next Stop: 1935

That’s not the only change on the way. After the first season (which Andy Muschietti steered along with Jason Fuchs and Barbara Muschietti), the team is aiming for a fresh time period. Andy Muschietti just dropped a nugget during a recent panel:

'It’s 1935—we’re now working on it, and it’s so much fun. For the ones of you who read the books, probably the Bradley Gang sounds familiar. The Bradley Gang was a gang of bank robbers that—not accidentally, but they were on their way somewhere, and they stopped in Derry to buy some ammo and something horrible happens.'

So expect the next season to dig into some lesser-known lore: the Bradley Gang, a group of criminals who made the mistake of passing through Derry (never a good life decision). If you were hoping for another round of 1960s/80s nostalgia, tough luck—we’re firmly in the Great Depression this time.

Still No Release Window (Of Course)

Now for the usual TV development mystery box: there’s zero solid info on when season two might actually hit screens. No production start date, no release window. Right now, just a bigger, potentially stranger writer’s room and the promise that Derry’s horrors aren’t done with us yet.