IT: Welcome to Derry - Why is Pennywise obsessed with Will Hanlon? Details revealed

The horror prequel series It: Welcome to Derry premiered on HBO on October 26, 2025.

It is set many years before the events of the earlier It movies. The show explores the dark origins of Pennywise. It shows how the town of Derry, Maine, slowly becomes haunted by an ancient evil force.

As the story unfolds, a new group of young characters is introduced. Many of them are children. Their lives and choices help shape the tragic history of the town. This legacy later connects to the story of the “Losers’ Club.”

Will Hanlon is one of the children in the show. He is the son of Major Leroy Hanlon. He is also an ancestor of the original Losers’ Club.

As the season goes on, Pennywise starts to focus on Will more and more. By the second-to-last episode, Will becomes a main target. This obsession becomes very scary.

Knowing why Pennywise is drawn to Will is very important. It sheds light on the more profound plot of the series. Moreover, it reveals the interplay of fear, innocence, and legacy in the town of Derry.

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Why is Pennywise obsessed with Will Hanlon in It: Welcome to Derry?

From the start, It: Welcome to Derry shows that Will Hanlon is not just any kid. He is different. He has a special place in the story. Other children are also seeing strange things and missing people. But Will stands out from the rest. He is part of the Hanlon family.

The Hanlon family is tied to the town’s secrets. They are linked to the military and to old tensions in 1960s Derry. Because of this, Will becomes even more important to the horror unfolding in the town.

Pennywise is an ancient evil that can change shape and feed on fear. At first, it does not fully appear as a clown. The early episodes use disappearances and strange events to build fear slowly. This makes the danger feel real and personal when Pennywise finally shows up in Episode 5.

The turning point comes in It: Welcome to Derry Episode 7, The Black Spot. Pennywise comes back during a time of rising violence. It attacks Will directly. It shows him the Deadlights. These lights reveal its true monster form, not the clown face.

Pennywise does not choose Will by accident. The attack is very clear. Will is being targeted on purpose.

So, Why Will? There are a few clear reasons:

Will is part of the Hanlon family in It: Welcome to Derry. The Hanlons are tied to power in Derry. His father, Leroy, works with secret military projects. These projects connect to Derry’s dark past. This puts Will in the middle of big, dangerous secrets.

Will is still a child. But he is also aware of the danger. He helps investigate the strange events in town. He feels fear, but he still hopes. This mix makes him the perfect target for Pennywise.

Will also represents the future. What happens to him will matter later. His trauma will echo into the next generation. This links him to the future Losers’ Club.

When Pennywise shows Will the Deadlights, it is not just a scare. It is a claim. The monster is choosing Will on purpose. It is saying that Will and his family are part of its dark plan.

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The larger mythos and what this obsession means

To understand why Pennywise is obsessed with Will, we must look at the bigger picture of It: Welcome to Derry. The show is not just about one monster. It is about the town, its past, and its ongoing curse.

The show expands Pennywise’s origin. It shows that the creature is very ancient. It is not just a clown. It comes from old cosmic myths. Long before settlers arrived, a Native tribe called the Shokopiwah told stories about a terror named “The Galloo.” This being was held back by special protective shards. These shards once kept the evil contained.

When settlers came, that balance was broken. The protection weakened. This allowed the creature to wake up again. The show presents Derry as a cursed town. It is a place filled with racism, violence, trauma, and supernatural evil. These things repeat across generations.

In this bigger story, Will is not merely a kid. He is an element of a civilization that is gradually decaying. His existence is marked by the factors of bigotry, dark military operations, and wickedness that is remote yet has an impact. Pennywise targets children like Will on purpose. It: Welcome to Derry suggests that kids linked to Derry’s painful history are key to the monster’s return.

By focusing on Will, It: Welcome to Derry makes the fear feel personal. Pennywise is no longer just a distant monster. It becomes a stalker that chooses its victims. It targets real people.

Will’s innocence becomes a weapon against him. The horror is not only about being attacked. It is also about losing childhood and safety. It is about losing identity. This makes the fear deeper and more painful.