In March 2022, HBO and Warner Bros. announced a prequel series at THIS franchise. The prequel will be called Welcome to Derby. The director of the previous two films, Andy Muschietti, will work as executive director on the series with his sister Barbara Muschietti.
The series is set to be based 27 years ago and will follow the origin of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. It will also explore the city of Derry in 1960, leading up to the events of IT: Chapter one.
Also Read: The Scariest Clown Monsters In Movie History That Put The Joker And Pennywise To Shame
Why another series?
The first two films proved to be hits grossing $1.1 billion worldwide. However, the film mostly followed the Losers’ Club story and their character growth, and Pennywise was just an entity they fought. Even though some things about Pennywise’s character are portrayed, his origin and how he actually came to Earth is still unexplored.
The series could further explore the cosmic backstory of Pennywise and Maturin the Thurtle. Not only that, but it may also shed some light on why the Losers’ Club members manage to avoid Derry’s Curse.
Considering these aspects, the studio decided to release the series. In June 2022, writer Shelley Meals shared a tweet saying “First day of Welcome to Derby writer’s room! We float here. The tweet points out that the writing for the series has already begun and the series has begun development.
Stephan King on the prequel
After the announcement of the series, Stephan King, the author of the book, THIS, said he would no longer be involved in this franchise. He said he doesn’t understand why everyone is obsessed with this character and leaves everything to Andy Muschietti.
The writer also doesn’t seem enthusiastic about the idea of the series and said the idea was “okay”.
Also Read: 17 Deleted Scenes From Your Favorite Movies That Never Made It To The Final Cut
Launch of the Writers’ Room
After its announcement in March, the Writers Room was announced in June 2022. With the launch of the Writers Room and other steps in the process, filming may also begin soon. If it starts this year, the series should be released in 2023. Many also believe that the creators could consider releasing it around Holloween next year. It will premiere on HBO Max.
First day of the Writers Hall WELCOME TO DERRY! We are floating here🎈 pic.twitter.com/sj48uvPfAn
— Shelley Meal (@1TallGrl) June 14, 2022
The cast and plot of the series
Little information is yet available on the show’s cast and characters, but it might introduce one or more characters who may have stayed away from Pennywise’s influence, or the Losers’ Club. was the first to do so?
Where two previous films had characters like Losers’ Club and Henry Bowers other than Pennywise himself, there is no update on which characters will be introduced in the prequel series, Welcome to Derby.
While the basic plot of the series should follow Pennywise. How he came to Derry and haunted the town as a clown, nothing is available about his plot.
For now, all that is available about the series is that it will be based in the 80s. It will show how Pennywise has been haunting the people of Derry for all these years. Welcome to Derby will also present the events that preceded the events of IT: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.
There are still no updates or confirmation as to when the series will premiere.
Source: RBC
