While Pennywise may have disintegrated into fiery fragments at the conclusion of It: Welcome to Derry Season 1, fans of the Stephen King adaptation know that evil never truly dies in Derry. Now, reports suggest that a second season of the hit HBO series is all but confirmed, with plans already in motion to explore terrifying new chapters of the cursed town’s history.
Despite the lack of an official press release from HBO, industry insiders and the show’s creators have dropped significant hints that the “cycle” of terror is far from over.
Is Season 2 Confirmed?
Technically, HBO has not yet issued an official renewal announcement. However, all signs point to a green light. A recent report from The Hollywood Reporter regarding Andy Muschietti’s upcoming Batman film, The Brave and the Bold, dropped a major revelation about the series.
According to the report, Muschietti “finds himself a hot commodity thanks to the muscular success of Welcome to Derry,” and explicitly states that “a second season is now in the works, even if it has not been officially renewed”. When reached for comment, HBO had no updates to share, but the show’s massive success makes cancellation unlikely.
The Three-Season Plan: Going Back in Time
Even before the first season aired, co-creator Andy Muschietti—who developed the show with Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs—outlined a clear three-season vision for the prequel series. Unlike traditional sequels, Welcome to Derry plans to move backward in time to explore previous cycles of Pennywise’s violence.
- Season 1 (1962): Detailed the cycle prior to the 1989 setting of the It feature films.
- Season 2 (1935): Muschietti indicated in January 2025 that the second season would likely be set in 1935.
- Season 3 (1908): The final season would jump back to 1908.
These eras align with the lore that the demonic entity wakes to feed every 27 years. Season 1 already planted seeds for these timelines through flashbacks, particularly focusing on Bob Gray, the human who performed as Pennywise before being overtaken by the entity.
Potential Plot Points and Mysteries
Moving the timeline backward presents unique storytelling opportunities. Season 1 flashbacks revealed how Bob Gray’s daughter, Ingrid, mourned his sudden loss in 1908 and later resorted to sinister acts in 1935 and 1962 to reunite with him. While Ingrid’s arc has been partially told, a full season set in these years could dig deeper.
Potential storylines for Season 2 and 3 include:
- The Kitchener Ironworks Explosion: A tragic 1906 event referenced in the opening credits and King’s novel, but not yet fully explored in the show’s narrative.
- The Gangsters of the 1930s: Season 1 briefly alluded to mob activity in Derry, which could become a central focus in a 1935 setting.
- Origin Stories: How the show handles the Native American plotline and the military’s presence in Derry across these earlier decades remains a key question for the writers.
Cast Changes: Who Will Return?
Given the anthology-like nature of jumping decades into the past, the cast for Season 2 will likely look very different. Viewers shouldn’t get too attached to the Season 1 lineup, which included Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, and Chris Chalk.
It seems probable that an “entirely new cast” will need to be assembled. However, two key figures could bridge the gap:
- Bill Skarsgård: Returning as Bob Gray/Pennywise is essential to the show’s continuity.
- Madeleine Stowe: As the older version of Ingrid, she may still have a role to play, depending on how the flashbacks are structured.
Physical Media Release Date
For fans who prefer to own their horror, It: Welcome to Derry: The Complete First Season is coming to 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on May 5.
The release will feature three “extended behind-the-episode featurettes” and a new exclusive featurette exploring the societal dynamics of 1962 Derry, including Jim Crow laws, the Red Scare, and the government trespassing on Indigenous lands.
