HBO has formally renewed its prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry for a second season, confirming that the town at the centre of Stephen King’s mythos will again be the setting for the programme’s next chapter.
New season set in 1935
The streamer said the forthcoming instalment will take place in 1935, against the backdrop of the Great Depression, and will focus on the bloody events surrounding the Bradley Gang — a band of bank robbers who arrive in Derry to purchase ammunition and encounter a horror that overwhelms them.
- Season setting: 1935, during the Great Depression
- Main focus: the massacre of the Bradley Gang
- Production change: Brad Caleb Kane will serve as sole showrunner for season two
The renewal comes approximately ten months after the first season premiered in October of the previous year. The series was created as an expansion of the cinematic adaptation produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, and the new order will continue under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Television and HBO’s production partnership.
Production team and creative leadership
HBO confirmed that production will continue with the Muschiettis as executive producers through their Double Dream production label. The broadcaster named a slate of executive producers who will return or join the project, including Brad Caleb Kane, who will move from co-showrunner to sole showrunner for the second season, alongside Roy Lee, Dan Lin, Jamie Travis and Dhana Gilbert.
“We are excited to return to the chilling world of Derry and to further expand on Andy and Barbara Muschietti’s horrifically iconic adaptation. Together with Brad Caleb Kane, they will break new ground in season two, deepening the terror, the mystery, and the unforgettable Pennywise lore that fans love to devour.”
The statement accompanying the renewal was attributed to Sarah Aubrey, Head of HBO Max Original Programming.
What it means for Derry and viewers
For residents of Derry — a city that occupies a central role in the imaginary geography of the IT stories — the announcement cements the town’s continuing presence in a high-profile international television franchise. The creative decision to shift the timeframe further back, to the 1930s, suggests a broadening of the backstory and mythology surrounding Pennywise and the recurring cycles of violence that King’s works depict.
The move also indicates continuity in the series’ ambitions: producers have framed the prequel as an exploration of Derry across different eras, emphasising how events decades apart are threaded into the town’s narrative. With the Muschiettis still attached in production roles and a dedicated creative team in place, the series is expected to remain a flagship drama for the streamer.
No release date has been announced. HBO and Warner Bros. Television will produce the season alongside the named executive producers and the Muschiettis’ Double Dream company.
| Season | Principal year depicted | Showrunner |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 1962 | Jason Fuchs & Brad Caleb Kane (co-showrunners) |
| Season 2 | 1935 | Brad Caleb Kane (sole showrunner) |
The broadcaster has previously indicated longer-term plans for the property, with the creators discussing additional seasons that would move through other historical periods. Those plans remain subject to development and scheduling; for now, the confirmed second season reaffirms Derry’s centrality to the unfolding televised saga.
Locally, the renewed spotlight on Derry is likely to keep attention on the city from fans, production crews and media outlets worldwide, and could influence future filming decisions or related tourism interest — though no local production or filming announcements have been made alongside HBO’s renewal statement.
