IT: Welcome to Derry Season 2 in the Works
The new season of the HBO Max series is set to delve further into the past
Attention Stephen King fans: A second season of "IT: Welcome to Derry" is currently in development. After the huge success of season 1, the renewal of the horror series comes as no surprise. Official confirmation from HBO Max is still pending, but according to industry magazine The Hollywood Reporter, work on season 2 is already underway.
The creative approach of the series is particularly interesting. The first season took us back to the fictional small town of Derry, which has been the setting for many Stephen King novels and films. The plot is set in the 1960s and tells a new story about a group of young people who have to confront the ancient, evil being.
But "It" fans know: The horror reappears every 27 years. The second season will therefore not continue the story from season 1. Instead, we will travel back to the 1930s to explore the previous cycle. A third season is also planned, which would go another 27 years further into the past.
Behind "IT: Welcome to Derry" is series creator Andy Muschietti, among others, who already directed the two films from 2017 and 2019. As in the films, Bill Skarsgård can be seen as Pennywise in the series. It can be assumed that he will also portray the horror icon in season 2. You can currently stream the complete first season of "IT: Welcome to Derry" on HBO Max.
The novel "It": Stephen King's monumental horror epic
Stephen King's novel "It" was published in 1986 and is one of his most extensive and ambitious works. The small town of Derry, Maine, appears idyllic on the outside, but beneath the surface it is characterized by violence, hatred and repressed trauma. Children disappear there at regular intervals – a pattern that is repeated over generations.
The culprit is an ancient entity that has existed beneath the city for thousands of years. It is able to take on any form and always appears to its victims as their greatest fear. The most famous form is the clown Pennywise, who deliberately attracts children with his friendly appearance. However, King's monster is far more than a classic villain: "It" embodies fear, guilt, social repression and the evil that can grow in communities when no one is looking.
The novel is told on two time levels. In the 1950s, a group of children – the Losers' Club – come together and confront the creature for the first time. Decades later, in the 80s, the survivors return to Derry as adults when the evil awakens once again. In addition to horror, King places great emphasis on themes of friendship, loss of innocence, memory and the long-term effects of childhood trauma. This approach is a key reason why "It" is still considered one of King's most important works.
The first adaptation: the TV two-parter from 1990
The first adaptation followed in 1990 in the form of a two-part TV film. Despite a modest budget, the adaptation quickly became a cult classic. Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise in particular shaped the image of the character for many years and caused lasting horror.
However, the TV two-parter could only do justice to the complexity of the original novel to a limited extent. Many subplots, Derry's historical background and deeper mythological elements were greatly simplified or omitted altogether. Nevertheless, the film adaptation was a defining visual version of "It" for a long time.
The modern reinterpretation of 2017 and 2019
With "It" (2017), director Andy Muschietti ventured a contemporary remake for the big screen. The film focused entirely on the childhood of the main characters and shifted the plot to the late 1980s. The film became a worldwide box office success and impressed with strong performances, a dense atmosphere and effective horror. Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise was much more animalistic and unpredictable than previous versions and gave the character a new, disturbing dimension.
In 2019, "It: Chapter 2" followed, concluding the story of the adult members of the Losers' Club. The film expanded the mythology surrounding the creature and Derry, but met with mixed reactions. Together, however, the two films form a cohesive reinterpretation of the novel. You can currently find both films on HBO Max.
