Horror fans have received an unexpected Halloween treat, with HBO Max releasing a surprise special episode of IT: Welcome to Derry that delves deeper into the terrifying history of the town long before Pennywise became its most infamous resident.
Titled A Story of Derry, the 30-minute special arrived on October 31, giving fans another opportunity to return to the sinister world inspired by Stephen King’s bestselling horror novel IT. Rather than continuing the events of the first season, the standalone instalment travels back hundreds of years to explore the ancient evil that has haunted the region for generations.
The surprise release expands the mythology established in the prequel series, offering a closer look at the Indigenous people who encountered the entity long before the events familiar to audiences from the films and television series.
According to the official synopsis, “Hundreds of years before Pennywise, three youngsters venture into the Western Wood…where they encounter a terrifying ancient spirit.”
Directed by Tazbah Chavez, known for her work on Reservation Dogs, the special is written by Cherie Dimaline and Jasmyne Flournoy. The story builds upon the history introduced in the first season, particularly the flashback sequence involving Dick Hallorann in the fourth episode, which explored the Indigenous community’s earlier encounters with the supernatural force known as the Kollu.
The cast includes Kiawentiio, who plays Necani, alongside Morningstar Angeline, Zahn McClarnon and other performers connected to the series’ Indigenous storyline. McClarnon, recognised for his work in Dark Winds and Westworld, adds another familiar face to the expanding IT universe.
By revisiting Derry’s distant past, A Story of Derry offers viewers a different perspective on the origins of the darkness surrounding the town. The special also gives the franchise an opportunity to explore its mythology beyond Pennywise himself, examining the history and legends that existed before the terrifying clown became synonymous with Derry.
The Halloween release arrives as IT: Welcome to Derry prepares to return for a second season. HBO confirmed the show’s renewal in August 2026, with the next chapter expected to travel further back in time to 1935, during the Great Depression.
Season two is set to explore the infamous Bradley Gang massacre, another tragic event from Derry’s history referenced in King’s original novel. The new setting promises a fresh group of characters and a different period in the town’s troubled past, while continuing to expand the larger mythology surrounding the creature at its centre.
For fans eager to revisit the unsettling world of IT while waiting for the next season, A Story of Derry provides a welcome surprise. Its arrival on Halloween makes the special a fitting addition to the franchise, bringing audiences back to a place where the past is never truly buried and the horrors lurking beneath the surface are far older than anyone might imagine.
IT: Welcome to Derry – A Story of Derry is available to stream on HBO Max. The release also includes an American Sign Language version.
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