New ‘It’ Spin-Off Delves Into Derry’s Dark Past

DERRY, Maine — The chilling opening episode of HBO’s ‘It: Welcome to Derry‘ takes viewers back to 1962, layering new characters over Stephen King‘s original terror. The series premiering on October 28, 2025, explores the haunting town and its infamous shapeshifter, Pennywise. Directed by Andy Muschietti, the show is set before the events of the first ‘It’ film.

The pilot begins with young Matty Clements, played by Miles Ekhardt, sneaking into the Capitol Theater to watch ‘The Music Man.’ His childlike innocence quickly gives way to horror when his encounter with a seemingly normal family spirals into chaos. After a disturbing childbirth scene in their car, Matty’s pacifier is sent flying out the window, marking his tragic fate as he vanishes from Derry.

Four months later, Matty is presumed dead, leaving his friends Phil and Teddy, who feel guilt over his disappearance, determined to uncover the truth. Phil embodies the conspiracy theorist trope while Teddy, a cautious boy, reflects the character Stanley Uris from King’s universe. In parallel, the show portrays Lilly Bainbridge, a girl facing her own trauma after losing her father to a tragic accident.

The children band together, inspired by their memories of Matty, as they face supernatural challenges echoing the legacy of the Losers’ Club. Throughout the narrative, the thematic undercurrents of grief and childhood innocence clash with elements of horror and the subconscious.

Major Leroy Hanlon, portrayed by Jovan Adepo, brings a facet of adult life into the story. He struggles against racial prejudice within the military, a reflection of the socio-political landscape of the early 1960s. His plot line runs parallel to that of the children, hinting at broader themes of violence and fear within society.

The pilot’s climax triggers panic as the children face an unimaginable horror in a theater, with a grotesque creature emerging, hinting at Pennywise’s influence and drawing a visceral reaction from the audience. The series captures a sense of dread and confusion as it intertwines personal and societal horror.

As ‘Welcome to Derry’ unfolds, audiences are left to ponder whether the fates awaiting these new characters mirror those of the beloved Losers’ Club. The premiere sets the stage for more chilling encounters ahead, marking a return to a fractured Derry filled with complex stories of childhood fears.