It: Welcome to Derry Premieres Next Sooner Than Planned on HBO Max

Audiences are thrilled for the chilling show Welcome to Derry, that's been garnering praise and incorporating references from the broader King universe. Just one day after launch, HBO has revealed that the next chapter will debut sooner than expected, released fittingly for Halloween.

Schedule Change Details

Beginning on October 31 at 12 a.m. Pacific Time, the second episode of Welcome to Derry will premiere on HBO Max, prior to its Sunday HBO premiere. Subsequent episodes of the show's first season will be released on Sunday nights on the network and streaming service, building toward the concluding chapter on the 14th of December.

Show Background

Set in Stephen King’s It universe, Welcome to Derry draws from the original story while expanding on the universe realized by the It movie director in It and It Chapter Two. The first It movie highlighted adolescents confronting terrifying threats, so it’s fitting that this show upholds that legacy. Yet, the debut of HBO’s Welcome to Derry proves it set out to increase the tension, providing even more intense scares than the movies and establishing a brutal tone for the rest of the season.

Story World and Concepts

Located in the early '60s, the program introduces a fresh cast of grown-ups and kids residing in a seemingly idyllic town concealing a dark secret. The town follows a brutal, periodic loop—one marked by aggression, prejudice, and paranormal events, as a evil entity resurfaces each 27-year cycle. While Welcome to Derry might appear like it leans too heavily to the movies initially, what distinguishes the streaming show is its two-sided viewpoint—unfolding through the viewpoints of young and old concurrently. Children are particularly vulnerable to the entity's fear, but older characters don't escape confronting their own nightmares born from Derry’s deep-seated bigotry and hidden paranormal elements.

Episode 2 debuts on the 31st of October at 3 a.m. EST.