The wait is almost over…

IT: Welcome to Derry is creeping closer, with its highly anticipated premiere hitting HBO Max on October 26th. This prequel series dives deep into the formative years of the terrifying entity we know as Pennywise, exploring how it came to haunt Derry, and just how far its control over the town truly goes.

The series directly connects to the events of It and It Chapter Two, taking viewers into the early stages of Pennywise’s long reign of terror. Co-showrunner Andy Muschietti, who directed both 2017 and 2019 It films, recently told SFX Magazine that fans can expect Pennywise to make his return in a few… unexpected ways.

“It’s very appropriate for a monster that is a shapeshifter to appear in several different shapes and manifestations before he shows up as a clown,” Andy said. “The idea is building tension around the apparition of a monster that we know already, and people are waiting – when is it going to appear?”

Starring Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, and Stephen Rider, with Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise (and serving as an executive producer), the series promises a terrifying ride that slowly builds before unleashing full chaos.

Producer Barbara Muschietti teased how the show keeps fans on edge:

“When you’re doing several episodes, you have to make every episode pack a punch. That was the hardest balance, to be able to hide Pennywise, but at the same time, create new incarnations and new fears that had a level that could get to a Pennywise level of fear.

“Andy did a truly incredible job at that,” Barbara added. “We don’t see Pennywise for a while, but the things that we see are pretty damn incredible. And there’s so much more!”

The tension. The shapeshifting. The legacy. IT: Welcome to Derry is setting up to be a must-watch horror event of the fall, and honestly, I’m ready to be terrified all over again.

Check out the official trailer below!