Horror enthusiasts across the UK have been gripped by the chilling first season of IT: Welcome to Derry, the prequel series delving into the sinister origins of Stephen King's iconic villain, Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The eight-episode run, which recently finished airing on Sky and NOW, serves as a direct prequel to the 2017 and 2019 film adaptations.
What's Next for the Killer Clown?
While HBO has yet to officially announce a renewal for a second season, the show's creative vision is firmly mapped out. Co-creator Andy Muschietti has previously confirmed that he conceived the story to span three seasons in total. This extended plan is intended to fully explore the non-linear, centuries-spanning history of the cosmic entity fans know as Pennywise.
According to Muschietti's outline, the narrative is designed to move backwards in time. A prospective second season would be set in 1935, precisely 27 years before the events of the first season. A planned third season would then jump back to 1908, adhering to the creature's 27-year cycle of awakening to feed on fear and children.
Exploring Pennywise's Twisted Timeline
In an interview with Deadline, Muschietti explained the unique approach to the villain's story. "His [Pennywise's] experience of time is non-linear. How is that and why, that’s a whole exploration that we intend to flesh out during the next two seasons," he stated. The initial pitch to Stephen King himself was to tell this macabre origin story backwards through the decades.
The first season's conclusion introduced a major reveal involving the character Ingrid, whom Muschietti describes as a "tragic character" and a "victim, but she’s a perpetrator too." Future seasons promise to delve deeper into her twisted relationship with the monster, as she is tricked into believing a part of her father remains within it, leading her to orchestrate pain and suffering to lure him out.
Where to Watch the Horror Unfold
For UK fans catching up or revisiting the nightmare, all eight episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry's debut season are available to stream on NOW. The series acts as a direct prequel to the films, set 27 years before the formation of the Losers' Club, and finally provides a backstory for why this ancient evil prefers the guise of a clown to haunt the town of Derry.
As audiences await official word from HBO on a season two greenlight, the extensive plans laid out by the creative team offer a compelling glimpse into the terrifying history yet to be uncovered. The journey into the heart of Stephen King's universe is far from over.
