TV
Everything We Learned About HBO Max’s ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ at NYCC 2025
Do you know what time it is? It’s time to float, baby—because Stephen King’s It is returning to our screens! Developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, the latter of whom also serves as co-showrunner alongside Brad Caleb Kane, It: Welcome to Derry is a prequel series to 2017’s It and 2019’s It Chapter Two and is set in 1962, 27 years before the events of the first film. Pennywise (played once again by Bill Skarsgård) is back for another child-eating cycle, so you’d better stay out of the sewers, even if you see a shiny red balloon down there.
Ahead of the series’ HBO and HBO Max premiere on October 26, the cast and creatives behind It: Welcome to Derry took to the Empire Stage at New York Comic Con to tease the horrors in store. If you couldn’t make it, never fear (well, maybe fear a little—you taste so much better when you’re afraid) because we’ve rounded up the highlights right here.
It: Welcome to Derry Is Based on Mike Hanlon’s Interludes from Stephen King’s Original Novel
If you’re a Constant Reader of Stephen King, you might remember that the 1986 novel It includes a series of five first-person “interludes” documented by Mike Hanlon (played in the films by Chosen Jacobs and Isaiah Mustafa), Derry’s town librarian and unofficial historian. These serve to flesh out the sinister world of Derry, which is a character in and of itself, and to help the reader appreciate just how far back Pennywise’s dark influence over the town goes. As Andy Muschietti put it during the panel, the interludes are “a puzzle that was intentionally unfinished in the book,” one that sparked an idea in the minds of the series’ creators.
“For me,” he says, “those interludes were kind of a blueprint for a different story, a hidden story, a story that is not told forward but a story that is told backward and has, as a final conclusion, the events in which It became Pennywise.” Why is the story being told backward? You’ll have to see the show to find out.
Photo taken by Samantha McLaren.
The Story Centers on Mike Hanlon’s Grandfather and His Family
We caught a glimpse of Leroy Hanlon, Mike Hanlon’s grandfather, in 2017’s It, where he was teaching the young boy how to use a bolt pistol to kill sheep. In It: Welcome to Derry, we’ll meet a young Leroy, played by Jovan Adepo, just as he’s moving to Derry with his wife, Charlotte (Taylour Paige), and their son—right in time for a kid to disappear in town.
Leroy is a “flyboy” in the U.S. Air Force, which was especially meaningful to Adepo, whose own father was a military man. “Getting a chance to play, in some form, a version of who I thought my father was as a child was really exciting for me,” he says.
Adepo notes that Leroy is in search of a better life for his family, which he’s probably not going to find in the clown murder capital of America, and teases that the man has a “very unique relationship with fear.” As for his wife, Paige says that Charlotte “has a sacral sense that something is just not right in Derry.
“It’s frightening to think that you’re losing your mind,” she says. “It’s frightening to feel hysterical, and everyone around you being like ‘oh, we’re good.’”
The 1960s Setting Creates New Opportunities for Anxiety and Fear
Stephen King’s It is split between the late 1950s (for the child portion) and the mid-1980s (for the adult portion). The film adaptations shifted these time periods up to 1989 and 2016, respectively. Since Pennywise’s murderous cycle occurs every 27 years, this means the prequel series is set in 1962, which allowed the creative team to tap into some of the themes and ideas present in King’s 50s setting.
“What we couldn’t do in the movie in terms of era… we’re doing now,” Andy Muschietti explains. “It’s closer in spirit and also in textures and feel to what the book was.”
“I love doing complex, interconnected, very character-rich shows,” says co-showrunner Brad Caleb Kane. “Setting it in 1962… that was very interesting to me, particularly when you’re dealing with a monster, an interdimensional creature, who uses fear and hatred to divide, and you’re talking about 1962 in America. Well, that’s a very rich and specific area to mine.”
This period of intense social anxiety and political instability in America would be nothing short of a buffet for Pennywise, for whom fear is flavoring. As King writes, “adults had their own terrors, and their glands could be tapped, opened so that all the chemicals of fear flooded the body and salted the meat.” In that case, our favorite Dancing Clown might want to monitor Its sodium levels.
“Derry is a microcosm for America,” Kane adds.
Indigenous Characters Will Play a Major Role in It: Welcome to Derry
It Chapter Two caught some heat in 2019 for its inauthentic inclusion of Native American spiritualism as a plot device. It: Welcome to Derry seems to be making strides to correct that mistake through the character of Rose, played in the series by Kimberly Guerrero. (That’s the same Rose, by the way, who owns Second Hand Rose, the pawn shop glimpsed in It Chapter Two and staffed by King himself in a cameo appearance.)
“The Stephen King universe is a family, but it’s a family that we’ve been left out of,” Guerrero says. “The native story has been there, but we were never able to join you all at the table. We have stories, too—and boy, what a story!”
Guerrero notes that the story of Derry, where something evil lurks in the sewers just out of sight, is one that will feel familiar to Indigenous audiences, saying, “I have never been to a reservation or a Native American community that did not have a place where you do not go. You do not go because you do not know.” But Rose does know, and she’s doing her darndest to protect against It. Her greatest fear is something happening on her watch.
“It was such a gift to get to play this Indigenous character that has had all this ancestral knowledge that’s been passed down from generation to generation to generation,” Guerrero enthuses. “Rose knows—my community in this story knows—everything that happened before Derry was Derry. There was a first Loser’s Club, and that Loser’s Club was a group of Indigenous kids.”
Photo taken by Samantha McLaren.
James Remar Was Thinking about Retirement before Getting the Call
Rose’s story in It: Welcome to Derry is closely connected to that of General Francis Shaw, played by James Remar. The actor, who recently reprised the role of Harry Morgan in Dexter: Resurrection, says he was considering retirement when the opportunity to join the Stephen King universe fell into his lap.
“I was in the parking lot of a Pavilions grocery store and I was thinking to myself, well, it doesn’t really matter if I don’t work anymore,” Remar recalls. “I got into the car and I got a phone call from my agent, and they said ‘Andy and Barbara Muschietti want to meet you for this undisclosed project, and they’re only meeting one actor.”
“I admired this man since I was a child,” Andy Muschietti explains. “When he said yes, I couldn’t believe it.”
Remar, who brought his own experiences growing up in the 1960s to the table, says his character was saved from Pennywise by Rose when they were kids. They fell in love and had a whirlwind romance as only 9-year-olds who have been terrorized by an ancient evil entity can, though Shaw’s psyche was “shattered” by his encounter with It. Now in charge of strategic air command for the northeastern United States, General Shaw returns to Derry on assignment and reunites with his old flame just as the cycle begins again.
“I feel that my character is drawn back to Derry,” Remar says. “It’s out of my control… I’ve forgotten it in large part, but it’s in the fabric of my being, and I go to Rose.”
We’ll See a Different Side of the Shining’s Dick Hallorann
Audiences will meet plenty of new characters in It: Welcome to Derry. But one character who is likely very familiar to Stephen King fans is Dick Hallorann, the man who would go on to become head chef at the Overlook Hotel and who would use his “shine” to help save Danny Torrance from the terrifying forces lurking within its halls. Hallorann is a central character in The Shining (played by Scatman Crothers in Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation, and by Melvin Van Peebles in Mick Garris’ 1977 miniseries) and a tertiary one in Doctor Sleep (portrayed by Carl Lumbly in Mike Flannagan’s adaptation). However, Constant Readers will know that Hallorann also has ties to Derry, where he founded The Black Spot bar, the site of a racially-motivated attack. According to Chris Chalk, the actor bringing this iconic character back to the screen in It: Welcome to Derry, the version of Hallorann we meet in the series is quite different to the older, gentler version we know and love.
“Dick is in Derry because Dick fucked up,” says Chalk. “Dick thinks all of these people are corny, he doesn’t respect a single one of them, and that’s the journey of Dick. The Dick you know is super nice. Good luck with this Dick!”
In an exclusive clip played for the NYCC audience, Hallorann—who was a mess cook in the military during his younger years—has a terrifying vision of Pennywise while flying high overhead in a U.S. Air Force plane, seeing the ruin’s of Bob Gray’s circus wagon and dead children suspended in the air in the sewer.
“You’re going to meet him at a stage where he has a different relationship with his internal self, with his spiritual world,” Chalk adds of Hallorann, “and his biggest fear is himself and losing control.”
Photo taken by Samantha McLaren.
Pennywise Is Here, but You Won’t See the Iconic Clown Right Away
We’ve been dancing around the Dancing Clown a lot in this article without looking directly at It. Don’t worry, Pennywise stans, It’s definitely part of the series—but you might not see It in Its clown form right away.
“He’s our shark,” says Barbara Muschietti, referencing Jaws’ tactic of teasing viewers with sightings before a sudden and shocking reveal. “We believe wholeheartedly that we can’t allow the audience to get comfortable with It. We had to hide the ball.”
“Part of the unpredictability is, ‘When is the clown going to show up?’” adds Andy Muschietti. “I can’t tell you when! But he will… He’s present in other incarnations for a while and then, when you least expect it, there he is.”
It: Welcome to Derry will premiere on HBO and HBO Max October 26th, 2025.
Now that we are heading into the last season of Stranger Things, it is hard to not remember the good times. Much like any goodbye, it feels too soon and is giving us a case of the nostalgia glasses. We all know that not all seasons were created equally. Yet, the wildly popular series managed to keep enough of us invested these last 10 years. It is an undeniable pop culture sensation that will not be forgotten anytime soon. It is also honestly one of the few shows that makes it hard to break up with Netflix. So, I decided to look back and highlight the best parts of each season. Grab a “Justice for Barb” t-shirt and take this walk down memory lane with me.
Our Favorite Moments From Stranger Things
Season 1: Eleven
Season one of Stranger Things brought us many memorable moments that reshaped pop culture. Joyce Byers’ (Winona Ryder) makeshift Ouija board on the wall, used to communicate with her missing son, was a major one. However, this was also the only season that allowed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to be a badass. Which is why she is the best part of Stranger Things’ first season. Watching her showcase her powers as she sought out waffles was a mood. A relatable queen if there was one, right? From using her telekinetic powers to stop annoying diner fans to flipping vans chasing after her and the crew, this season set Eleven up to be a powerful badass. That is even before we get into her mind tricks, which we still have some questions about. Sadly, subsequent seasons have yet to follow through on the promise this one gave us. I could write a whole series about how Eleven is a reservoir of untapped potential in the next three seasons.
Season 2: Steve and Dustin
I think Max (Sadie Sink) is one of the best additions to the show, and I felt Bob (Sean Astin) deserved a better arc. However, only one arc warms my cold little heart when I think about this second season. Few things bring as much joy to Stranger Things fans as the unshakable bond between Steve and Dustin. Season 2 is where this unlikely duo found each other, and that is why they are the best part of this season for me. Steve (Joe Keery) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) bring out the best in each other. Interestingly enough, the actors seem to have also found themselves formidable scene partners. Whether Dustin is bringing Steve up to speed or Steve is giving Dustin tips on how to handle girls, these two stole our hearts at multiple points this season. My personal favorite is when Steve steps in to save Lucas from Billy the Racist, and Dustin cheers him on (while he has the upper hand). Dare I say, this relationship has become the heart of the show.
Season 3: Robin Coming Out to Steve
This season of Stranger Things introduced quite a few new characters to kill, like all the other seasons. However, Robin (Maya Hawke) seemed cooler than most, and we were silently rooting for her to make it. While her easy dynamic with Steve made us worry that she would become another part of the Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan saga, we had nothing to worry about. When Steve professed his feelings to Robin, she surprised us all and came out. This led to Steve surprising us by picking up a more age-appropriate best friend in what is one of the sweetest moments of the show. Aside from becoming Steve’s platonic girlfriend, Robin also went on to become the first openly gay character in the ridiculously large main cast. So, while this season isn’t my favorite, I’m very grateful it brought us this scene and this pairing.
Season 4: Eddie Munson Meets Erica Sinclair
Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) is probably part of everyone’s favorite moments from the fourth season of Stranger Things. While many people will probably cite his cafeteria entrance, his moment in the woods with Chrissy (Grace Van Dien), or the infamous “Chrissy, wake up,” those aren’t my favorite moments. Because this show taught us that Quinn is a scene thief, and he turned this season’s throwaway character into a pop culture moment, there is plenty to choose from. However, my nerdy ass’s favorite scene is when my two favorites faced off in Dungeons & Dragons.
Resident scene thief Erica (Priah Ferguson) finally found someone who could keep up with her when she showed up to this game. Watching her and Eddie match wits before getting down to an epic game of DnD that spawned numerous fan theories about how Eddie could come back for season 5 is priceless. He forced Dustin and Steve’s duo to become a trio, played Metallica’s Master of Puppets in The Upsidedown, and broke our hearts with his death. However, I choose to remember him alive and becoming begrudgingly impressed with the little girl who takes no prisoners. I would have watched them play this game for hours and lived my best nerdy life.
We’re Looking Forward to Season 5 of Stranger Things
So, those are my fondest memories from each season of Stranger Things. Feel free to let us know your favorite moments and your predictions for the fifth and final season on social media!
The first four episodes of Stranger Things: Season 5 hit Netflix on Wednesday, November 26. Let us know if you plan to watch as they air. Or if you are going to wait until the end of the year to binge the whole season.
In 2014, Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice created magic with their mumblegore-adjacent found footage epic Creep. Three years later, this dreamy duo brought us the second installment of their creepy killer. Seven years would pass until Josef (Mark Duplass) would creep back into our daily lives with six truly terrifying episodes of The Creep Tapes. It would only be a short time until a second season of The Creep Tapes was announced…and even less time for a third season! The best experience I had at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival was seeing the first three episodes of The Creep Tapes Season 2.
The Creep Tapes Season 2 Creeps Back Into the Spotlight
The Creep Tapes Season 1 was fairly straightforward throughout. It was a fantastic season (that I loved), but the majority of it was more of the same. Josef finds a victim (through various means), plays nice (and weird), goes after victim, and death. The season finale, “Mom (and Albert)”, was the first time we really got some (what seems to be) true background into Josef. From personal conversations, that episode was hit or miss. (I loved it, the dude hung dong!)
Upon hearing the news of Seasons 2 and 3, I was left wondering, will we get more background, OR will it just dive into Josef’s maniacal madness? While the first three episodes of Season 2 don’t do much to give us too much information about Josef’s background, it does up the ante considerably. Season 2 makes clear that Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have grandiose ideas that they’re only scratching the surface of.
The Creep Tapes: S2 E1 “Joseph”
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but what happens when the imitation is just… wrong? Josef finds himself in the sights of Joseph (David Dastmalchian), who is looking for a videographer to film a video for his unborn son, as Joseph has been diagnosed with cancer. Sound familiar?
How can someone possibly replicate the insane scenario Josef concocted in Creep? It can’t just be a coincidence—and it’s not. We come to learn that Josef has been doing something with his tapes (and films) that allows Joseph to view his work. Unfortunately for Joseph, the wrong man answered his ad.
This piece of information is crucial for understanding who (and what) Josef is. At points, he seems mentally ill, misguided, a man who just gets too damn lucky sometimes. The information gleaned reveals a much more careless, while still sophisticated, man who believes he’s creating art (of sorts). What’s the purpose of creating chaos in the modern age of technology if you can’t share it with other degenerates?
The “flip of the script” in Season 2 Episode 1 “Joseph” is a heart-racing 20-ish minutes of anticipation. I didn’t separate my butt from the edge of my seat until the credits rolled. But it’s with the casting of Joseph that the true magic of the Season 2 premiere excels. Who else can outmaniac a maniac? Of course, it has to be David Dastmalchian.
The Creep Tapes: S2 E2 “Mark”
Mark (Robert Longstreet) wakes up in a concrete room, his leg chained to the ground. A TV sits atop a table. An empty tub sits across the room. Someone lies still underneath a blanket, with a chain coming out of the bottom. And Josef accompanies Mark, leg chains and all. What could go wrong?
One of the most interesting things about Josef as a character is his ability to showcase his flaws, something that is extremely apparent in Season 2, Episodes 2 and 3. Nearly everything that can go wrong for Josef goes wrong. The reason it goes wrong is because of a simple oversight on Josef’s part. And it’s kind of heartening to see. Nearly every time we see Josef in action, he has a general grasp of his overall plan. He knows, more or less, how his targets will react, and his incredible improv skills allow him to course correct when necessary.
“Mark” just goes off the rails in ways Josef could never imagine.
Season 2, Episode 2 is Duplass and Brice’s nod at the Saw franchise. And, if anything other than a few laughs, solidifies the intense planning and expertise that goes into a John Kramer game. One simple oversight can cause a highly crafted plan to fall apart at the seams. To boot, “Mark” is one of the funniest pieces of horror media I have ever seen. It begs the question, what if an absolute dufus was put in a Saw film?
And don’t worry, bloodhounds, there’s gore aplenty!
The Creep Tapes: S2 E3 “Wes”
Wes (Diego Josef) finds himself taking a job to help Josef film a house-flipping show’s pilot episode. But night descends, and Wes realizes that they’re in the middle of nowhere. Wes’s attempted escape from Josef leads to an unfortunate run-in with law enforcement. Oh boy, how will he get out of this one?!
Even the greatest of franchises will bottom out at some point. Much of what we’ve seen Josef do involves a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. HOW is there not at least a Reddit thread about filmmakers/videographers who have gone missing after answering Craigslist ads? There is no way a 20/20 wouldn’t have been made about these killings if they were real. I mean, just look at how many tapes we see in the opening. Josef is talented at what he does, but everyone slips up eventually.
“Wes” brought me to a point where I was unable to suspend my disbelief. When AMERICAN police see someone moving a potentially dead body and don’t immediately cuff and detain them, you’re asking a bit too much. The crux of this episode revolves around a repeated word: “professionalism.” I get that it’s supposed to shine a light on how unprofessional the police are in this scenario, but it’s a step too far.
What I will say is that it’s a fun angle to take. We’re watching this killer that we’ve seen commit nearly 10 murders, and there are more we haven’t, interact face to face with the police. How will he get out of this sticky situation? I just don’t believe the way it is handled is grounded in a reality that would ever make sense. The chemistry between Wes and Josef, though, is some of the best in the entire franchise. They play off of each other incredibly well, and it makes you wish “Wes” were a feature-length film character instead of an episode character.
A Bold New Chapter for The Creep Tapes
Overall, the first three episodes of The Creep Tapes Season 2 were an overall blast. Even with the issues I had throughout “Wes”, I was entertained the entire time. “Joseph” and “Mark” are contenders for the best episodes of the entire series (and maybe even best entries in the entire franchise). I love seeing Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice spreading their wings to take Josef in different directions. They find ways to keep the product feeling original while still paying direct homage to horror properties beloved by the masses. If these are the first three episodes of Season 2, I think we’re in for a real treat with the final three.
The Creep Tapes Season 2 premieres November 14 on Shudder and AMC+.
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