HBO Max has released a surprise 30-minute special episode of its prequel series, It: Welcome to Derry, for Halloween. The episode, titled "A Story of Derry," became available at midnight.
This special episode delves into the past, exploring events hundreds of years before the events of the It films. It follows a group of children who venture into the Western Woods and encounter an ancient entity connected to Pennywise and the wider mythology of Stephen King's horror universe. The episode was directed by Tazbah Chavez and written by Cherie Dimaline and Jasmyne Flournoy.
The release of "A Story of Derry" serves as an appetizer for the show's upcoming second season. HBO Max announced the renewal for the second season a couple of months ago, indicating ongoing plans for the series following its success in the first season.
The series acts as a prequel to Andy Muschietti's It films. The first season primarily focused on events in Derry, Maine, during the 1960s and offered further insights into Pennywise's origins. The second season is set to adopt an anthology format, centering on a group of bank robbers who meet a grim fate in Derry during the Great Depression.
At present, there is no specific release window for the second season of It: Welcome to Derry. However, the first season, the special episode "A Story of Derry," and both of Muschietti's It movies are currently available for streaming on HBO Max.