‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ Renews for Seasons 2 & 3 With Darker, Scarier Stories Ahead
You thought the nightmares were over, but we all float down here. With the arrival of “IT: Welcome to Derry” on HBO, fans are once again descending into the cursed sewers of Stephen King’s most terrifying New England town. The prequel series, helmed by the masterminds behind the recent film adaptations, Andy and Barbara Muschietti, has already clawed its way to the top of the ratings, proving that our collective fascination with Pennywise the Dancing Clown is far from over.
“IT: Welcome to Derry” Had a Slaying Debut
The show’s debut was nothing short of a phenomenon, securing its place as the third-largest premiere in HBO’s history, trailing only behind behemoths like “House of the Dragon” and “The Last of Us.” The real question isn’t whether the show is a hit – it’s whether we’ll get to witness more of the Derry 27-year cycle of terror. While HBO is playing (just a little) coy with an official announcement, all signs point to a renewal, and frankly, it would be insane for them not to.
Why is “Welcome to Derry” a Guaranteed Renewal?
HBO really needs this. According to Deadline, in a recent chat with reporters, programming head Casey Bloys basically admitted that the network is “leaning hard into big-name intellectual property” (IP). Why? Because the good old days of getting blockbuster movies on a Saturday night are over. Studios are now hoarding their biggest films for their own streaming platforms, leaving HBO with a gaping void to fill. Bloys also said:
“We are also leaning into the power of IP to help fill a void.”
This isn’t just a casual comment; it’s a mission statement. Shows like “IT: Welcome to Derry” and the upcoming “Dune: Prophecy” are their new heavy hitters. They come with built-in audiences and massive brand recognition. Given the blockbuster ratings, doing something stupid like canceling “IT: Welcome to Derry” now would be like throwing out a winning lottery ticket. The show is averaging a staggering 9.2 million viewers in the U.S. and nearly 15 million globally. Wow! You don’t just walk away from numbers like that.
A Three-Season Arc Is Already Mapped Out
The creative team isn’t just winging it, either. Andy and Barbara Muschietti have a grand, horrifying vision planned out: a three-season arc that travels backward in time. Each season will explore a different 27-year cycle of Pennywise’s reign, anchored by some of Derry’s most gruesome historical events straight from King’s novel. Eeek.
The current “IT: Welcome to Derry” season is set in 1962. This is building towards the infamous Black Spot nightclub fire, which was a horrific act of racial violence that fuels Pennywise. But if you’ve been paying attention, the show has already dropped massive hints about what’s coming next.
The 27-Year Cycle of Horror
The opening credits of the second episode weren’t just artsy animations; they were a roadmap. We saw glimpses of the 1935 Bradley Gang massacre, where the townspeople, under Pennywise’s influence, turned into a vigilante mob and gunned down a group of bank robbers. Then there’s the 1908 Kitchener Ironworks explosion, a tragedy that killed 102 people, including 88 children, during an Easter egg hunt.
If you’re thinking this season was intense, just wait. A line from the fifth episode confirms it: the current 1962 cycle “has been a lot milder than ’35 and ’08.” That’s not just dialogue; it’s a promise. The show is telling us, loud and clear, that the horror is only going to escalate.
Pennywise’s Role and the Future of Derry
One of the smartest moves “IT: Welcome to Derry” has made is how it’s handling Bill Skarsgård’s return as Pennywise. Instead of trotting him out immediately, they’ve taken a page from “Jaws,” slowly building the tension and making his eventual appearance in the fifth episode all the more terrifying.
Showrunner Jason Fuchs explained they wanted to “delay the pleasure, or the terror, as much as we could.” This slow burn allows the story to breathe and gives Skarsgård new ways to explore the character that the movies didn’t allow.
With a clear multi-season plan, record-breaking viewership, and a network desperate for established IP, a second season of “IT: Welcome to Derry” isn’t just a possibility; it’s a near certainty. We’re strapped in and ready to float along for the entire horrifying ride.
