This past Halloween, at the stroke of midnight, HBO Max surprised horror aficionados with A Story of Derry, an unannounced special tied to the highly anticipated Welcome to Derry series. The standalone episode, as reported by Ecran Large, serves as a chilling interlude while viewers await the second season of the prequel show, which itself is set to explore the origins of the malevolent entity known as It.
Set centuries before Pennywise the Dancing Clown began tormenting the children of Derry, Maine, A Story of Derry follows three young protagonists who venture into the ominous woods surrounding the town. There, they encounter an ancient and terrifying spirit, delving into the very foundations of the evil that permeates Derry. The special reportedly expands upon themes introduced in the fourth episode of Welcome to Derry's first season, which touched upon why Pennywise is bound to the town.
Surprise : la série Ça a dévoilé un épisode spécial pour Halloween sur HBO Max
The special was directed by Tazbah Chavez, known for her work on series like Reservation Dogs and Accused. The screenplay was penned by Cherie DiMaline, a producer for Welcome to Derry and writer for A Murder at the End of the World, alongside Jasmyne Flournoy, who also contributes to Welcome to Derry and The Acolyte. The cast features notable talents such as Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, Westworld), Kimberly Guerrero (Reservation Dogs, Outer Range), and Kiawentiio (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Beans).
The It universe, born from Stephen King's iconic 1986 horror novel, has seen multiple adaptations across decades. Following a memorable 1990 TV miniseries starring Tim Curry as Pennywise, Andy Muschietti brought the story to the big screen with two highly successful films in 2017 and 2019. These cinematic blockbusters, which collectively grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide on a combined budget of $115 million, paved the way for the HBO Max prequel series, Welcome to Derry, which premiered in October 2025.
While A Story of Derry offers a fresh taste of terror, the main course remains Welcome to Derry Season 2. The upcoming season is slated to transport viewers to 1935, focusing on the arrival of the infamous Bradley Gang, a group of bank robbers, in the cursed town. Brad Caleb Kane, who served as co-writer and showrunner for the first season, is set to return to helm the new episodes. However, an official release date for the second season has yet to be announced, leaving fans to speculate on when Pennywise's ancient history will continue to unfold.