'It: Welcome to Derry' trailer is full of Pennywise scares and Stephen King Easter eggs

Stephen King's killer clown is back to give you nightmares.
 By 
Belen Edwards
 on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
A clown holds a red balloon standing in front of the logo "It: Welcome to Derry."
Watch Next

If you thought you'd seen the last of It's creepy clown Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), you were sorely mistaken. Sorry to burst your floating red balloon, but the iconic horror figure is back to haunt our screens in HBO's upcoming horror series It: Welcome to Derry.

Developed by Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti (It, It: Chapter Two) and inspired by the Mike Hanlon interludes in Stephen King's novel, It: Welcome to Derry transports viewers to Derry, Maine, in 1962. The show's trailer introduces newcomers to town, the young couple Leroy and Charlotte Hanlon (Jovan Adepo and Taylour Paige). It fans will recognize Leroy as Mike's grandfather.

While the Hanlons are hoping for some normalcy after living on an Army base for eight years, they instead encounter ugly racism at the hands of their fellow Derry citizens, something the It: Welcome to Derry trailer hints at in chilling fashion.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

That isn't the only horror they'll face, though. The evil entity we know as Pennywise is about to make his return, guaranteeing town-wide terror and children's disappearances.

It: Welcome to Derry's trailer hints at the horrors we can expect from Pennywise in the show, including some seriously bloody visions. But the trailer also features some major King Easter eggs, including a reference to the Shawshank State Prison. The series also stars Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann, who appears in King's It but is more well-known for his key roles in The Shining and Doctor Sleep.

What other King works will It: Welcome to Derry pull from, and more importantly, will I be able to sleep after watching Pennywise's return?

It: Welcome to Derry also stars James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso.

It: Welcome to Derry premieres Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Topics HBO Trailers

A woman in a white sweater with shoulder-length brown hair.
Belen Edwards
Entertainment Reporter

Belen Edwards is an Entertainment Reporter at Mashable. She covers movies and TV with a focus on fantasy and science fiction, adaptations, animation, and more nerdy goodness. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Television Critics Association, as well as a Tomatometer-approved critic.


Latest Videos

Stephen Colbert reacts to the Artemis II moon mission
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, gesturing.


'The Daily Show' reacts to judge halting Trump's White House ballroom
Desi Lydic presents "The Daily Show" beside an image of Donald Trump.


A24's 'Mother Mary' trailer is worth it for the FKA twigs track
Anne Hathway is dressed in a red pop star outfit with religious overtones in a film still from "Mother Mary."

Jon Stewart has a brutal reaction to Trump waffling about pens
A man in a suit sitting behind a talk show desk looks angry. In the top left is an image of the president holding up a pen.

Stephen Colbert gleefully recaps the best signs at the 'No Kings' protest
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage, smiling. The caption at the bottom reads, "I like that one."

Riz Ahmed is troublingly intense in new 'SNL UK' promo
A close-up of a man grinning in a slightly creepy way.


The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!