HBO’s Brutal Stephen King Series Won’t Return in 2026
HBO’s horror prequel *IT: Welcome to Derry* will not return in 2026, despite being renewed for a second season. Its likely release window is the second or third quarter of 2027, extending the wait for a series that was a hit with critics and viewers.
Set in 1972, about 27 years before the 2017 *IT* film, the show features a mostly new cast and Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, who is expected to return. Creators Andy Muschietti and Jason Fuchs developed the series for television; it holds ratings of 81% from critics and 82% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
- *Welcome to Derry* will not return in 2026.
- Season 2 is likely to arrive in Q2 or Q3 2027.
- Bill Skarsgård is expected to reprise Pennywise.
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IT: Welcome to Derry is a horror series based on Stephen King’s novel IT and serves as a prequel to the 2017 film. Set in the town of Derry in 1972, it takes place about 27 years before the film and follows a new cast of characters.
The story is linked to Pennywise, a shape-shifting figure played by Bill Skarsgård in the film and series. Andy Muschietti and Jason Fuchs developed the series for television; Muschietti also directed the film. Its place in the IT story helps explain why viewers may want to know how it connects with the film.