An IT Prequel Series Is In The Works

Warner Bros. is currently developing an IT prequel series for HBO Max.

The series, titled Welcome To Derry, will be an origin story of Pennywise the clown as he begins to pick off children in the Maine town one by one.

A group of kids who are taunted by the clown are forced to confront their fears as they come up against the shapeshifting monster.

According to Variety, the series, which will lead up to the events of the first film, will be written and executive produced by Jason Fuchs, who has previously written for films including Pan, Wonder Woman and I Still See You. 

Andy Muschietti, who directed It: Part One and It: Part Two, will also serve as executive producer alongside Barbara Muschietti through their Double Dream production company. 

Though HBO Max has remained very tight-lipped about the project, Muschietti will also direct the first episode if the show is greenlit.

Warner Bros. is behind the new series as the studio produced both films too.

The prequel series comes after the success of the IT films, with part one grossing more than US $701 million and IT: Chapter Two earning over US $473 million.

As well as box office success, the films also received glowing reviews from critics, with many praising Bill Skarsgard for his chilling performance as Pennywise.

Dani Di Placido for Forbes wrote: “Skarsgard manages to be unsettling in his own way. He’s a bit like Heath Ledger’s Joker mixed with a starving Rottweiler; otherworldly, and animalistic.”

While Paul McGuire Grimes for TwinCities said: “Bill Skarsgard is frightening as Pennywise. It’s a very different kind of take on the character than what Tim Curry did in the mini-series.”

HBO Max is also working on another series existing in the Warner Bros. universe, with a spin-off following The Batman villain, The Penguin, Variety reported.

Colin Farrell, who will reprise his role, teased that the show will delve ‘deeper’ into the character, whose real name is Oswald Cobblepot, as he wreaks havoc on Gotham.

“The world that Matt Reeves created for ‘The Batman’ is one that warrants a deeper gaze through the eyes of Oswald Cobblepot,” he said.

“I couldn’t be more excited about continuing this exploration of Oz as he rises through the darkened ranks to become The Penguin. Will be good to get him back on the streets of Gotham for a little madness and a little mayhem.”