‘It’ Prequel Series ‘Welcome to Derry’ Floats Over to HBO Max

Thanks to HBO Max, Stephen King‘s murderous clown will be hitting the small screen.

The ‘It’ prequel series will explore the town of Derry, Maine, long before the Losers Club, the ragtag crew of high school kids harassed by the shape-shifting clown Pennywise in the summer of 1989.

‘It’ and ‘It: Chapter Two’ filmmakers Andy and Barbara Muschietti will be back to take on the highly anticipated series, currently titled ‘Welcome to Derry’, allowing the continuation of the beloved style, atmosphere, and heart of the film adaptations.

While the Muscheiettis will direct, Brad Caleb Kane and Jason Fuchs will serve as the show’s writers. The series will allow the Muschiettis to broaden the history of the terrifying New England town and dig deeper into Pennywise’s origins. The Muscheiettis, both passionate King readers in their youth, are sure to conjure up a frightening and poignant series that will satisfy every King fan.

In a statement in The Hollywood Reporter, King seemed elated by the news, saying, “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. Red balloons all around!”

While there is no set release date nor any word on casting, we can only hope that the Muschietti’s Pennywise, Bill Skarsgård—in all his eye-popping, drooling, gangly glory—will return once more to scare us off the couch.