MAX Releases Chilling First Images from IT: Welcome to Derry Prequel Series

MAX has released the first official images from IT: Welcome to Derry, the highly anticipated prequel series set in Stephen King’s terrifying universe.

This new series, set thirty years before the events of IT (landing us in 1962), explores the sinister origins of Derry’s evil and introduces a fresh storyline that delves deep into the town’s dark history—along with a confirmed connection to a beloved character from the IT movies.

One of the photos from the series showcases Jovan Adepo in an Air Force uniform with a name tag reading “Hanlon.” Fans of IT will recognize the significance of this, as it implies Adepo’s character is related to Mike Hanlon, who was a pivotal character in the main IT story.

While it’s yet to be confirmed, it seems highly likely that Adepo will be portraying Will Hanlon, Mike’s father. In King’s original book, Will Hanlon co-founded The Black Spot, a club created as a refuge for Black residents of Derry. The club ultimately met a tragic end when it was burned down in a racially-motivated attack—an incident connected to the lurking influence of Pennywise.

The Black Spot was referenced in dialogue in the first IT movie, but fans will finally get to witness the full story of this dark piece of Derry’s past in Welcome to Derry. By introducing this narrative, the show promises to dive deeper into the town’s dark and sinister history, highlighting the cyclical presence of evil in Derry that Pennywise embodies.

In addition to Jovan Adepo, the cast of IT: Welcome to Derry boasts names like Taylour Paige, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso. Familiar faces behind the IT movies are also on board for this project, with Andy Muschietti returning to direct four episodes and Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as the terrifying Pennywise. The creative team also includes producer Barbara Muschietti, screenwriter Jason Fuchs, who penned the first episode, and Brad Caleb Kane as co-showrunner alongside Fuchs.

With a team of executive producers including Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane, David Coatsworth, Shelley Meals, Roy Lee, and Dan Lin, IT: Welcome to Derry promises a chilling exploration into the origins of Derry’s haunting past and Pennywise’s terror.