Bill Skarsgård in “IT: Welcome to Derry.”
HBO
Stephen King’s IT prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry, starring Bill Skarsgård, kicks off with its first episode this weekend.
Skarsgård, of course, played the murderous Pennywise the Dancing Clown in director Andy Muschietti’s blockbuster adaptation of King’s classic novel IT in 2017 and its hit sequel IT: Chapter Two in 2019.
The series is set in 1962, 27 years before the events of 2017’s IT. Created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, IT: Welcome to Derry also stars Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe and Rudy Mancuso.
IT: Welcome to Derry premieres with Episode 1 on Sunday, Oct. 26, on cable on HBO at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The series will also begin streaming on HBO Max Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
For viewers who don’t have HBO Max, the streaming service has an ad-based tier that costs $9.99 per month and an ad-free tier for $16.99 per month. Additionally, HBO Max offers an ad-free tier with 4K Ultra HD programming for $20.99 per month.
Andy Muschietti Said Stephen King Granted Him Creative Freedom When Interpreting His Work
Siblings Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who directed and produced the IT movies, respectively, have taken on the same duties for IT: Welcome to Derry.
During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Muschiettis noted how Stephen King didn’t provide them with notes while working on the series, much in the same way he was hands-off with the IT movies.
“Stephen didn’t approach the show like that,” Andy Muschietti — who directs four episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry — told THR. “He wasn’t imposing any kind of guidelines on us. I think his desire was to let us play with his toys because from the beginning, we were clear to him.
“We said, ‘Your book is a mystery. It’s a puzzle and left unsolved intentionally. And we’re going to create a lot of stuff to bring those enigmas, and also to fill in the gaps in the puzzle. Eventually, this creates a story that’s not in the book. It’s a hidden story,’” he added.
Rated TV-MA, IT: Welcome to Derry begins Sunday on cable on HBO at 9 p.m. ET/PT and will start streaming on HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/10/24/what-time-does-it-welcome-to-derry-begin-this-weekend-how-to-watch/
