HBO Max Developing ‘It’ Prequel Television Series

Stephen King’s popular horror novel It, which was most recently adapted into two films by Warner Bros., looks like it is going to have its story continued in a new prequel series that’s reportedly in development.

Sources close to the project told Variety that more of Pennywise the Clown’s backstory would be explored in Welcome to Derry, which is set to take place in the 1960s before the events of the first It film that was released in 2017. This would also be the first time any TV or film adaptations of King’s work were expanded beyond the confines of its source material. It Chapter Two concluded with the main cast of characters growing up and returning to their hometown of Derry to defeat the evil supernatural clown once and for all.

It’s also being reported that the director of the two films, Andy Muschietti, has signed on to executive produce the series alongside Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. It and It Chapter Two collectively grossed $1.1 billion at the global box office, and while the second film was met with mixed reviews, both delivered a modern spin on a classic Stephen King horror story.

Welcome to Derry would be the latest in original television series that HBO Max has in development. The streamer is also working to produce a The Batman spinoff series for The Penguin, and received great reviews from its The Suicide Squad spinoff series, Peacemaker, starring John Cena.