Fans eager for the IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 9 release date have been closely following updates from Warner Bros. Television and Max (formerly HBO Max). As of December 15, 2025, production updates confirm that Welcome to Derry — the highly anticipated prequel to the IT films — is scheduled to premiere in September 2026, with Episode 9 expected to arrive in late November 2026, based on the show’s weekly release schedule.
The series, developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, explores the origins of Pennywise the Dancing Clown and the dark history of Derry, Maine. With filming now complete and post-production well underway, new details about episode releases and cast involvement have surfaced, fueling excitement among Stephen King fans and horror enthusiasts across the U.S.
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Confirmed Premiere Timeline and Episode Schedule
Warner Bros. Television and Max have officially announced that Welcome to Derry will debut in fall 2026. The show will reportedly follow a weekly episode rollout, matching the format used for other Max originals like The Last of Us and House of the Dragon.
Industry insiders have indicated that the season will include nine episodes in total, each running between 55 and 60 minutes. Based on this confirmed episode count and the targeted premiere window, Episode 9 — the season finale — is projected to air in late November or early December 2026.
While Warner Bros. has not yet released a full calendar of episode dates, post-production reports suggest the studio is aligning the show’s debut with the Halloween season, an ideal window for a horror property of this scale.
Series Overview: What Welcome to Derry Will Explore
Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the IT film duology directed by Andy Muschietti. The show will expand on Stephen King’s universe by exploring the town’s unsettling history and the origins of the entity that later becomes Pennywise.
Set decades before the events of the 2017 and 2019 films, the story is expected to reveal how Derry became a cursed town marked by recurring cycles of terror. Fans will see new characters experiencing the town’s first encounters with evil, leading up to the rise of Pennywise in his infamous clown form.
Muschietti, who directed both IT films, returns as an executive producer and will direct multiple episodes, including the pilot. Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs are handling production and writing duties, ensuring that the series remains consistent with the tone and mythology of the films.
Production Status and Latest Updates
As of mid-December 2025, Welcome to Derry has completed filming and entered full post-production. Shooting took place primarily in Toronto, Ontario, and surrounding areas throughout 2024 and early 2025. The city once again stood in for the fictional town of Derry, Maine — the same filming location used in IT (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019).
Post-production teams are now focused on visual effects, sound design, and editing to bring Pennywise’s terrifying world to life with cinematic quality. Warner Bros. has confirmed that early test screenings received strong reactions, with audiences praising the show’s atmosphere and tension.
The Muschietti siblings recently shared that the series will lean heavily into psychological horror, exploring the human fears that fuel Derry’s darkness as much as the supernatural menace itself.
Cast and Characters
The Welcome to Derry cast brings together both new and familiar talent.
Key confirmed cast members include:
- Taylour Paige (Zola)
- Jovan Adepo (Watchmen)
- Chris Chalk (Perry Mason)
- James Remar (Dexter)
- Madeleine Stowe (12 Monkeys)
While Warner Bros. has not confirmed whether Bill Skarsgård will reprise his role as Pennywise, sources close to production indicate that the actor’s likeness and vocal performance may appear in select sequences, maintaining continuity with the films.
The series will introduce several new characters whose storylines will intertwine with Derry’s sinister legacy, uncovering how the town’s inhabitants either confront or succumb to the cycle of fear.
Episode Details and Story Focus
While full episode titles have not been released, insiders suggest that Welcome to Derry will unfold across multiple decades, documenting how the town’s evil presence first emerges. Early reports indicate that the show’s narrative will feature:
- The construction of the Derry sewer system, which becomes a crucial setting in the IT films.
- The discovery of the entity that preys on human fear and takes various forms — with the clown being its most iconic.
- Exploration of racial and social tensions in mid-20th-century America, grounding the supernatural horror in real-world issues.
- Connections to future events in the IT universe, offering clues that tie directly into the movies.
By the time IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 9 airs, viewers can expect the series to converge with the lore that sets up Pennywise’s reign of terror from the films.
Creative Team and Production Insights
The show’s creative team includes several returning names from the IT movies, ensuring visual and thematic consistency.
- Andy Muschietti: Executive Producer and Director of key episodes.
- Barbara Muschietti: Executive Producer overseeing production design and continuity.
- Jason Fuchs: Executive Producer and Writer, known for contributing to IT Chapter Two.
- Warner Bros. Television and Double Dream are leading production in partnership with Max Originals.
In interviews, the team has emphasized that Welcome to Derry will not simply rehash the IT story but will expand the mythology of Stephen King’s universe, exploring the cyclical nature of fear and the dark secrets that keep the town trapped in terror.
Fan Expectations and Online Reactions
Since its announcement, Welcome to Derry has generated massive anticipation among horror fans. Online discussions have focused heavily on whether the series will explore Pennywise’s cosmic origins, which were only briefly mentioned in IT Chapter Two.
Fan forums and social media threads have praised the production for maintaining the tone of the films while giving the story more room to develop. The confirmation of nine episodes has been particularly well received, with many noting that the extended runtime allows for deeper world-building and character arcs.
With IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 9 set to conclude the first season in late 2026, fans expect the finale to bridge directly into the events of the 2017 film, potentially setting up a second season or companion series.
Streaming Details and Where to Watch
When it premieres, Welcome to Derry will stream exclusively on Max in the United States. The platform, formerly HBO Max, continues to serve as Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship streaming service for premium original content.
Episodes will be released weekly, typically on Thursday or Sunday evenings based on the network’s release history. Each installment will remain available for on-demand viewing after its premiere.
Final Thoughts: Countdown to Derry’s Return
With filming wrapped and post-production well underway, the countdown to Welcome to Derry has officially begun. While the full episode schedule will be released closer to the premiere, the projected IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 9 release date in late November 2026 marks what will likely be one of the most talked-about finales in the horror genre next year.
Are you excited to return to Derry? Share your thoughts on what you hope to see in the prequel and which mysteries about Pennywise you want answered.