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Audiences are thrilled for the Stephen King adaptation Welcome to Derry, already receiving positive feedback and weaving in themes from additional King stories. Now, the broadcaster announced that episode two will debut sooner than expected, scheduled ideally for October 31st.

Early Release Information

Beginning on the last day of October at 3 a.m. EST, episode two of It: Welcome to Derry will make its debut on HBO Max, prior to its Sunday HBO premiere. Future chapters of the show's first season will premiere on Sunday nights on the network and streaming service, building toward the final episode on December 14th.

Series Overview

Based in the Derry mythology, Welcome to Derry is inspired by King’s iconic novel while building upon the setting established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in It and It Chapter Two. The original It centered on young characters confronting terrifying threats, so it’s fitting that the prequel continues that tradition. Nevertheless, the debut of HBO’s Welcome to Derry proves it set out to increase the tension, providing more frightening moments than Muschietti’s films and establishing a brutal tone for what's to come.

Story World and Concepts

Located in the early '60s, this show features a new generation of grown-ups and kids residing in a seemingly idyllic town hiding a sinister core. The town operates on a cruel, recurring cycle—one marked by aggression, prejudice, and paranormal events, as a monstrous presence reappears every 27 years. While Welcome to Derry might seem like it strays too near to the films initially, what differentiates the digital program is its parallel storytelling—unfolding through the perspectives of kids and grown-ups concurrently. Younger characters stay particularly vulnerable to the monster's horror, but grown-ups also face dealing with their personal demons stemming from the town's ingrained prejudice and covert otherworldly powers.

Episode 2 premieres on October 31 at midnight PT.