Welcome to Derry: HBO Max officially gives It prequel series a greenlight

We’ve been tracking the progress of the HBO Max series Welcome to Derry, which will serve as a prequel to Warner Bros’ two-part adaptation of the classic Stephen King novel It (pick up a copy HERE) for almost a year now. The project was first announced in March of last year, then in June it was confirmed that the writers room had opened its doors. In November, Brad Caleb Kane (Tokyo Vice) and Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman), who was a co-producer on It: Chapter Two, were hired to serve as the showrunners. And now, Deadline reports that HBO Max has finally, officially, given Welcome to Derry a greenlight.

Welcome to Derry is being executive produced by Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, the sibling director/producer duo that was behind the two It movies, through their production company Double Dream. Kane and Fuchs are also executive producing. The series is produced by HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television.

Fuch has written the script for the first episode, working from a story he crafted with the Muschiettis. Andy Muschietti will direct multiple episodes of the series, including that first episode.

Stephen King provided the following statement: “I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara. Red balloons all around!“

The Muschiettis added: “As teenagers, we took turns reading chapters of Stephen King’s It until the thick paperback fell to pieces. It is an epic story that contains multitudes, far beyond what we could explore in our It movies. We can’t wait to share the depths of Steve’s novel, in all its heart, humor, humanity, and horror.“

And Fuchs had this to say: “To be able to return to the world of my all-time favorite horror novel and help build upon the singularly brilliant cinematic universe created by Andy and Barbara is more than the opportunity of a lifetime, it’s a dream come true – or, maybe more appropriately, a nightmare.“

Are you glad to hear that Welcome to Derry has been given the greenlight and is moving toward production? Let us know by leaving a comment below!