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Fans are eagerly awaiting for the Stephen King adaptation Welcome to Derry, that's been earning acclaim and incorporating elements from the broader King universe. Just one day after launch, the broadcaster declared that the second installment will debut sooner than expected, released fittingly for Halloween.

Schedule Change Details

Starting on Halloween night at midnight PT, episode two of It: Welcome to Derry will make its debut on HBO Max, before its Sunday HBO premiere. Subsequent episodes of the eight-episode season will be released on the weekend on both HBO and its streaming arm, building toward the concluding chapter on December 14th.

Series Overview

Based in the world of King's It, Welcome to Derry draws from the original story while building upon the universe established by director Andy Muschietti in the two It films. The original It highlighted adolescents facing supernatural evils, so it’s fitting that the series continues that tradition. Yet, the premiere episode of HBO’s Welcome to Derry proves it set out to escalate the fear, providing more frightening moments than the movies and setting a brutal tone for the upcoming episodes.

Story World and Concepts

Located in the early '60s, this show presents a fresh cast of grown-ups and kids inhabiting a apparently peaceful community masking a sinister core. Derry follows a cruel, recurring cycle—characterized by aggression, prejudice, and paranormal events, as a monstrous presence resurfaces each 27-year cycle. Although the series might seem like it strays too near to the movies at first, what distinguishes the streaming show is its two-sided viewpoint—told from the eyes of both children and adults simultaneously. Children stay especially susceptible to the monster's horror, but grown-ups aren’t spared confronting their own nightmares born from Derry’s deep-seated bigotry and lurking supernatural forces.

It: Welcome to Derry premieres on Halloween at 12 a.m. Pacific Time.