It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 Moves Forward Despite HBO Silence
The chilling prequel to Stephen King's It is quietly progressing with a second series, even as HBO remains tight-lipped. Director Andy Muschietti is already shaping the next chapter of Pennywise’s sinister legacy.
Fans of unsettling clowns and small-town secrets have reason to be quietly optimistic. The next instalment of It: Welcome to Derry is already being pieced together, even though HBO has yet to make any official pronouncements about its return. While the broadcaster keeps its cards close to its chest, director Andy Muschietti is not waiting for a formal nod before getting to work on the follow-up to the horror prequel.
Amidst news that Christina Hodson, known for Birds of Prey, is set to pen the script for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, it’s been confirmed that Muschietti is pressing ahead with the second series of the Derry saga. The director has never been shy about his ambitions for the show, which delves into the origins of Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise and the generations of Derry residents who find themselves in the path of the monstrous entity. The prospect of more episodes is hardly a shock, but it’s reassuring for those who’ve been following the story’s twisted path.
Setting the Stage: 1930s Derry and the Bradley Gang
In a December interview with Variety, Muschietti offered a glimpse into what’s coming next.
“We can only say the stuff that's already known, like it's in 1935, 27 years before season 1 and it involves the massacre of the Bradley Gang from the books,”
he explained.
“It takes place during the Depression in Derry, and there are some new characters and some characters from this season as well, but younger versions of them.”
This means viewers can expect a shift in both time and tone, with the action unfolding during the bleak years of the Great Depression. The infamous Bradley Gang massacre, a grim episode from King’s original work, will take centre stage. Familiar faces—at least in name—are set to return, though the passage of nearly three decades means new actors will likely step into the roles of Kimberley Guerrero’s Rose, James Remar’s Shaw, and Madeleine Stowe’s Ingrid. The town’s history, it seems, is never short of bloodshed or tragedy.
Pennywise Returns: Skarsgård’s Chilling Encore
One constant remains: Bill Skarsgård is expected to reprise his role as the nightmarish Pennywise. The entity’s reign of terror is far from over, and the new series promises to explore fresh horrors as well as the roots of Derry’s curse. The creative team appears intent on weaving together new storylines with echoes of the past, ensuring that the town’s legacy of fear continues to evolve.
For those who have already devoured the first series—dubbed “Chapter One” in the closing credits—the wait for more is on. The initial run is currently available to stream, offering a taste of what’s to come as the next chapter takes shape behind the scenes.
Looking Ahead: Anticipation Builds for 2026
With the second series quietly advancing, speculation is bound to swirl about which new and returning characters will face Pennywise’s wrath. The creative direction, set against the backdrop of 1930s America, hints at a blend of historical drama and supernatural menace. As the production gears up, viewers are left to wonder which upcoming television events in 2026 will manage to steal the spotlight—or send shivers down their spines.