IT: Welcome to Derry is set to premiere just in time for Halloween on October 26, and HBO Max has now released a final red-band trailer, giving us our first proper look at the return of Pennywise the Clown, who will once again be played by Bill Skarsgård.
There was speculation that this prequel series may introduce a new take on the ancient shape-shifting entity, and while the terrifying demon is sure to wear a few different faces over the course of the series, it looks like he'll mostly be staying in his most familiar form.
“Bill and I were fantasizing about the character of Bob Gray and an origin story,” Andy Muschietti tells Deadline. “There was an enthusiasm to go back and explore the complexities of this character.”
"We never did TV before, but there’s a bunch of TV shows that mean a lot to me and I appreciate the format, having a bigger canvas to tell a story, and the impact that has on audiences,” he continues. “Our love for the book, and the vacuum created by all these mysteries and question marks in it, mean you end up, as a reader, not understanding everything, including the mystery of IT. What is IT? What does IT want?”
This latest promo also features Chris Chalk as a younger Dick Hallorann, who was introduced in Stephen King's The Shining (the character does actually appear in King's IT novel).
"The thing that Dick fears is himself," Chalk told EW in a recent interview. "You're gonna meet him at a stage when he has a different relationship with his internal self, with his spiritual world and his biggest fear is himself and losing control."
Check out the new trailer below.
IT Parts 1 and 2 filmmakers Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti are on board along with Jason Fuchs (IT: Chapter Two). Andy will also direct multiple instalments of the series, including the first episode.
The show is expected to serve as a prequel story that will “expand the vision” of the movies. We know that Pennywise terrorised the town of Derry prior to the events of King's story, so the Muschiettis have plenty of room to manoeuvre here.
“As teenagers, we took turns reading chapters of Stephen King’s It until the thick paperback fell to pieces,” the Muschiettis said in a statement when the project was first announced. “It is an epic story that contains multitudes, far beyond what we could explore in our It movies. We can’t wait to share the depths of Steve’s novel, in all its heart, humor, humanity and horror.”
“I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara,” added author Stephen King. “Red balloons all around!”
IT: Welcome to Derry also stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso, and is set to premiere this October.