Alixandra Fuchs (Hatfields & McCoys), Kimberly Guerrero (The English), Dorian Grey (Transplant, Star Trek: Discovery), Thomas Mitchell (Gangland Undercover, Spiral), BJ Harrison (Family Law, Maid), Peter Outerbridge (Batwoman, Saw VI), Shane Marriott (Fargo, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent), Chad Rook (Joe Pickett, Billy the Kid), Joshua Odjick (Little Bird, Wildhood) and Morningstar Angeline (Echo, Westworld) have all signed on for roles in Welcome to Derry that will air on MAX next year. No word on who either of them will play yet.
Deadline reports that Bill Skarsgård will return as Pennywise in the upcoming Welcome to Derry.
A familiar face is coming back to terrorize the children of Derry, Maine. Bill Skarsgård is set to star in and executive produce the Max It prequel series Welcome To Derry (working title), He will be reprising his title role as It/Pennywise from the hit 2017 New Line movie It and its sequel, It Chapter Two.
In an interview with Screen Rant director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour talked briefly about Welcome to Derry
The television medium allowed for the show to focus more about the characters, it's very, very character-driven. I've enjoyed preparing for that show, and I think audiences will be as scared as they are in the original movies, and Andy Muschietti's handprints are all over this series. So, I think people will be very excited for the series.
Welcome To Derry has been pushed to 2025.
We had had [Welcome To Derry] scheduled for Halloween ’24 but it will likely [be] pushing into ’25,” HBO CEO Casey Bloys officially announced.
The first casting for Welcome to Derry has been announced.
Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk and James Remar has been cast. Exact plot and character details are being kept a secret, but the official description for the series is:
“Set in the world of Stephen King’s ‘It’ universe, ‘Welcome to Derry’ is based on King’s ‘It’ novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films ‘It’ and ‘It Chapter Two.'”
Remains to see how much of King’s book vs. the movies this will he based on…
Pennywise actor Bill Skarsgård is not involved in Welcome to Derry:
We'll see what they come up with and what they do with it. I'm, as of now, not currently involved in it. And if someone else gets to do it, my advice would just be: do it your own, make it your own, have fun with it, you know what I mean? What I thought was so pleasurable about that character was how incredibly abstract he was. Thanks to Herbert West.
King on Welcome To Derry.
”I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara. Red balloons all around!”
Looks like Welcome to Derry might start filming in April. Her is what Bleeding Cool says about it:
Welcome to Derry: HBO Max's Pennywise Prequel Series Filming In April. Based on a recent production list, it looks like filming is taking place in April on HBO Max's It/Pennywise prequel series, Welcome to Derry.
A little less than three months after HBO Max's upcoming "It" film franchise prequel series found its showrunners in Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman) & Brad Caleb Kane (Tokyo Vice), we have what looks to be good news to pass along regarding Welcome to Derry. The series kicks off in the 1960s and leads up to the events of 2017's It: Part One (based on Stephen King's classic horror novel) while also touching upon the backstory of Pennywise the Clown. Now, based on a listing on Production List, the series is looking to start filming in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on April 3rd. Andy Muschietti, who directed both films in the King franchise, will executive produce the series alongside Barbara Muschietti, Fuchs, and Kane. In addition, Fuchs wrote the teleplay for the first episode based on a story he wrote with the Muschiettis, with Andy Muschietti considering directing the series opener. Warner Bros. Television serves as the studio, with the Muschiettis' Double Dream production company also producing.
HBO Max’s head of Originals, Sarah Aubery have commented on the upcoming series Welcome to Derry
“We have been working with Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Caine, Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti very closely…They’re so deep into this mythology and they have such a firm handle on the storytelling around these characters and also the demented scares that they’re putting into things. Sometimes I’m, like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Just all the wild ways they think up to terrify us. You’ll be hearing more concretely about that development very soon… Andy is very involved in every bit of this, so that is the real recipe for success and for delighting fans.”
Variety reports that Welcome To Derry has the GO from HBO.
Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane will serve as co-showrunners on the “It” prequel series currently in the works at HBO Max from Andy and Barbara Muschietti , Variety has learned exclusively.
The show, currently titled “Welcome to Derry,” was first reported as being in development in March. HBO Max has given the show a series production commitment. Exact plot details remain under wraps, aside from the fact that the show will serve as a prequel to the recent films “It: Chapter One” and “It: Chapter Two,” which were released in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
Looks like Welcome to Derry has started production. Jason Fuchs who will produce with Andy and Barbara Muschietti posted this photo with the text ”Day 1” on his Instagram yesterday.
A prequel to IT is in development at HBO Max. The series is called Welcome to Derry and will begin in the 1960s and cover the time up to the events in the IT movie from 2017. It’s also said it will cover the origin story of Pennywise.
Andy Muschietti, who directed both IT movies, is attached to executive produce the series along with Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. Muschiettis and Fuchs developed the story for the show with Fuchs writing the script. Andy would also direct the first episode should the project go to series.
What do you think? Do we want/need a prequel to IT that’s not based on something King wrote?