Is It: Welcome to Derry connected to Stephen King's The Dark Tower? Andy Muschietti drops big tease

It: Welcome to Derry is gearing up to transport audiences back to one of Stephen King’s most infamous creations. First realized in the 1986 novel, it is still one of the author’s most mind-bending works, a mix of small-town horror with cosmic terror.

Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries left an indelible impression on viewers, and in 2017 and 2019, Andy Muschietti brought back the monstrous clown to a new generation in a two-part film adaptation. Now, HBO Max is expanding the franchise with a prequel series that aims to give viewers a deeper look into Derry’s dark history.

This nine-episode series seeks not merely to tread old ground, but to expand the canvas of King’s universe onscreen. Andy Muschietti recently offered an intriguing glimpse into what the series intends to uncover.

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Is It: Welcome to Derry connected to The Dark Tower? Details explored as teased by Andy Muschietti

Speaking to TV Insider, Muschietti explained:

“The purpose of the show, among others, is to open a window to the other side… and give the audience the feeling that everything they know about the book and stories and movies is just the tip of the iceberg. Everything that is on the other side, it’s connected to the Dark Tower because it’s the same universe, the macroverse.”

He also clarified that while the story will continue to be seen largely through the eyes of humans, the series will reveal more than speculation. Adding further:

“Of course, being It, we are seeing all this from the perspective of humans, mostly. In this series, there will be more than speculation. We’re gonna have that and give the audience glimpses of the other side.”

With this public nod at a direct connection to the Dark Tower mythos, Muschietti's statement hints at the fact that the television format is finally allowing for the narrative space to show readers and fans the interconnected worlds that the novels have always known and run parallel to.

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How It: Welcome to Derry plans to expand Stephen King's universe

The new series comes from Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, the same team that was behind the success of IT. At San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Muschietti teased the return of the infamous Neibolt House, describing it as more than just a location. He explained:

“I’m very, very happy to go back to Neibolt. It’s not only a house, but it’s also the gateway to It’s lair. It appears in Season 1 and has a new meaning.”

IT: Welcome to Derry's ambition doesn't just lie in igniting old scars. The series will investigate the town’s hidden sins and expose new secrets with new characters and settings, as well as follow the pervasive evil that continues to lurk within Derry, looking for vengeance.

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What is It: Welcome to Derry about? Cast, release date and more details

IT: Welcome to Derry will be a prequel to IT, the first of which will take place in Derry, Maine, 1962. The story will center on the torching of the Black Spot, a nightclub founded by Black men, which was set on fire in a brazen act of racism, an event King described in the book. The series will also explore the disappearances of children in the small town of Derry. While the families try to cope, they soon learn that the town hides sinister secrets.

As Pennywise feasts on fear and prejudice, the series will show how these two separate events are tied together by the traditional resurgence of It in Derry. The official synopsis reads:

"It will follow the events in the 1960s, the time leading up to the events of the first film in the Stephen King It series."

It: Welcome to Derry has an ensemble cast, which includes Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar and Stephen Rider, with Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise. The season will be nine episodes long, and it was primarily shot in Ontario.

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The show is all set to debut on HBO Max in October of 2025.