IT: Welcome To Derry Co-Creator Says Stephen King ‘Was Mystified’ By The Show’s Three-Season Plan, But There’s A ‘Specific Reason’ For The Approach

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It seems like only recently that Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk came out in theaters, and now you can watch it at home digitally. Plus, a new Stephen King adaptation, IT: Welcome To Derry, is coming soon! The first episode of this prequel series premieres this Sunday on HBO and HBO Max, and creators Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs have planned a story that could span three seasons. Interestingly, even Stephen King was a little surprised when they first shared their idea.

This week’s edition of The King Beat is led by my recent interview with Andy and Barbara Muschietti. Now that the review embargo has lifted for IT: Welcome To Derry, I can also share my thoughts on the first five episodes of the eight-episode series. You’ll find a quick review below, so let’s get started!

IT: Welcome To Derry Has An Unorthodox Three-Season Plan That Drew Extra Curiosity From Stephen King

It’s easy to see why making prequels is difficult. Telling a good story is hard enough, but it’s even harder when the audience already knows how things eventually turn out. For example, a story set in the 1950s about preventing a nuclear war doesn’t feel very suspenseful if viewers know the world is still around in 2025.

What really struck me about the plan for IT: Welcome to Derry is how unique it is. After IT: Chapter One took place in 1989 and IT: Chapter Two in 2016, this new show starts as a prequel set in 1962. But here’s the really wild part: each season will actually go further back in time. Season 2 will be in 1935, and Season 3 will take us all the way back to 1908! That means the later seasons will be prequels to prequels to prequels… and honestly, I can see why Stephen King was a little confused when he first heard about it – it’s a pretty ambitious idea!

During a recent interview with Andy and Barbara Muschietti about their show IT: Welcome To Derry, I asked about Stephen King’s involvement. Andy explained that King isn’t just a passive approver of adaptations. He actively challenges ideas, provides honest feedback, and even questions the overall direction of the story. As Andy put it,

He seemed really happy with our overall plan. He would definitely point out things if they didn’t meet his expectations, but generally, he was very enthusiastic about us finishing the puzzle and crafting stories that confirmed what was happening, while also working towards a bigger conclusion. He was also intrigued by our decision to tell the story in reverse.

Just a reminder, the creature Pennywise wakes up every 27 years to feed on fear in Derry, Maine – that’s why the show’s seasons are set at specific times. The show’s timeline isn’t exactly like Stephen King’s novel, but it draws from the research Mike Hanlon does into Derry’s disturbing past, which is found in the book’s ‘Interludes.’

Considering the existing IT movies, the new show IT: Welcome to Derry faces a challenge: audiences already know Pennywise won’t be truly defeated throughout the series. This problem will only get bigger as the show progresses. Because the show is telling the story backwards, each season will likely need to focus on a completely new set of characters, unlike the original IT films which followed the same group of heroes across 27 years.

But why take such a risky approach to storytelling? Director Andy Muschietti promises there’s a reason behind it all, and viewers will get a key piece of the puzzle in the season’s final episode. He explained further that…

We’re telling the story in reverse order for a specific reason that will become clear as the three seasons unfold. There’s a hint at the end of Season 1, so viewers should definitely pay attention! Stephen King was very supportive and enthusiastic about our approach. He wasn’t interested in controlling his material, but rather genuinely curious to see what we created within the world he’d built.

Does the show do a good job of fitting all the pieces together and staying true to established storylines? Here’s how I see it…

Mini Review: In A Year Packed With Terrific Stephen King Adaptations, IT: Welcome To Derry Is The Greatest Surprise Yet

When the first trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry was released in late May, I had some concerns. I even wrote an article titled “Thrilled As I Am For The Return Of Pennywise, The IT: Welcome To Derry Trailer Makes Me Worry About The Stephen King Series” because the marketing seemed to focus heavily on the younger characters. I worried this meant the story about how The Black Spot began wouldn’t be as prominent, which was a similar issue I had with how IT: Chapter Two was structured.

After watching the first five episodes, I can confidently say my initial worries were unfounded. IT: Welcome to Derry is a surprisingly well-made and disturbing show that I really enjoyed. It builds on the story from the IT movies in a fantastic way, and it’s clear the creators are huge Stephen King fans – they’ve included details and surprises that go beyond the original 1986 novel.

The show is full of hidden references and Easter eggs – we’ll be posting about them after each episode – but it doesn’t feel like it’s just trying to please fans, nor does it simply rehash ideas from the IT movies. While the monster’s frightening actions drive the story, the show also develops four other interesting storylines that are constantly changing and growing.

Beyond the compelling story, the series is genuinely scary, consistently delivering nightmares that will unsettle even those who aren’t easily frightened. As I mentioned recently, while Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise the Dancing Clown isn’t fully revealed right away, his terrifying ability to change shape is used in clever and imaginative ways. Expect plenty of jump scares – the show’s creators expertly blend practical effects with visual effects to create a truly frightening experience.

The acting in IT: Welcome To Derry is fantastic overall, and while I won’t reveal too much, Taylour Page, Chris Chalk, and Clara Stack really shine. Though Page and Chalk don’t have major roles in the first episode (Page doesn’t appear until the second), Charlotte Hanlon – Leroy Hanlon’s wife – is a powerful force for justice in Derry. Chris Chalk’s portrayal of Dick Hallorann is also compelling, offering a fresh take on the beloved character from The Shining and Doctor Sleep.

Olivia Stack shines as Lilly Bainbridge, a young girl dealing with loss – she’s recently lost her father and a friend has gone missing. Stack beautifully portrays Lilly’s blend of sadness, worry, and inner strength, making her performance the most memorable part of this story focused on children.

2025 has already been a fantastic year for Stephen King fans, and the new series IT: Welcome to Derry continues that trend. Even the least successful adaptation so far has been decent, and this latest offering strengthens the idea that this could be the best year yet for seeing King’s work brought to the screen.

That’s all for this week’s King Beat! But don’t worry, we’ll be back next Thursday with a new column. Plus, over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing lots of stories from our interviews with the people behind IT: Welcome To Derry – including directors Andy and Barbara Muschietti, showrunners Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane, and stars Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Kimberly Guerrero, Chris Chalk, and Stephen Rider. Keep checking TopMob for updates!

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2025-10-23 19:21