The It franchise is often concerned with the past and what it brings. The first entry of the Stephen King adaptation is set in 1988 and 1989, as the children of the fictional town of Derry are preyed upon by an ancient shapeshifting creature that has awakened from its almost three decade slumber. Even in the sequel, It Chapter 2, is set in modern times yet the now-grown up members of The Losers’ Club still live in the shadow of the trauma experienced at the hands of Pennywise, who they know will one day return, leading one of them to take his own life before he can relive his childhood.
Soon, the franchise will once again delve into the past with the HBO TV spinoff It: Welcome to Derry, which is set in 1962, the last time Pennywise plagued Derry prior to It, as the monster awakens every 27 years. Interestingly, we know the least about this period in Derry’s bloody history, as the only information available is that Pennywise’s return at this time coincided with a cult burning down a bar called The Black Spot. While it would certainly be a frightening premise to build up to the disappearance of 91 settlers who founded Derry as a beaver camp initially, or the 1908 ironworks explosion that led to the discovery of 102 people (mostly children), each incident of which was of course instigated by a ravenous and ever sadistic Pennywise. By setting it in 1962, however, these events can still be referenced or even explored in greater detail, all the while offering a much more malleable narrative that is not bogged down by too much precedent. After all, a horror is not as effective when you know what’s coming!
Speaking of those behind It: Welcome to Derry, the director of It and It Chapter 2, Andy Muschietti, and his wife and producer of the movies, Barbara Muschietti, developed the show alongside screenwriter Jason Fuchs, who will serve as showrunner alongside Brad Caleb Kane. Andy Muschietti has also been confirmed as a director for 4 of the 9 episodes slated for the first season. Another major figure returning from the original films is none other than Bill Skarsgård, and he will once again portray Pennywise – who is rumoured to have an origin story in the show – while also serving as an executive producer. Interestingly, the Swedish actor had originally declined to return as the iconic killer clown, but in May this year he announced that he would be returning to the role for which he has earned a great deal of acclaim, and deservedly so.
Otherwise, the show will feature an all-new cast that includes Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, Stephen Rider, and veteran actor James Remar. There is also Canadian talent featuring in recurring roles, such as Peter Outerbridge and Joshua Odjick.
It: Welcome to Derry was originally slated for release this year, though it has since been pushed to an unspecified date in 2025, at least in part due to delays caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023. I can, however, confirm that filming, which took place in the Ontario locations of Toronto, Hamilton and Port Hope, concluded in August and is now in post-production. While that is certainly promising news, the yet-undisclosed release date does not point to an early 2025 release, and it would hardly be surprising if they opted to release the show closer to Halloween next year, though that is pure speculation on my part.
In the meantime, stay tuned for more updates on what is shaping up to be an exciting series indeed!
During Halloween, a time full of magic and spooky atmosphere, watching the creepy “IT” in a dim room is undoubtedly the best choice to fit the current situation. For fans of clowns, in addition to watching the movie, they can also buy Custom Enamel Pins with clown and horror elements.
The pins can be added with patterns such as pumpkins and skulls, and can also incorporate other horror elements such as gloomy castles, bloody daggers, ghostly withered hands, etc. Through exquisite production, metal, and enamel are cleverly combined to present a retro and thrilling texture. A small pin can also be worn on clothes, hats, and bags, becoming a unique fashion embellishment during Halloween and even on weekdays.
