HBO Max Releases Surprise 'It: Welcome to Derry' Prequel Episode for Halloween

Key points

• HBO Max released a surprise 30-minute episode of 'IT: Welcome to Derry' titled 'A Story of Derry' on October 31, 2026.
• The episode is set hundreds of years before the main series and features three Native American teenagers encountering the entity It.
• The episode explains the formation of the 13 sacred pillars that keep It caged in Derry, a plot point referenced in Season 1.
• This is the second annual Halloween surprise release for the show, following a similar drop in 2025.
• 'IT: Welcome to Derry' has been renewed for a second season set in 1935, adapting the 'Derry Interlude' chapter from Stephen King's novel.
• Season 2 will focus on the Bradley Gang massacre during the Great Depression, as part of a planned three-season arc covering major catastrophic events from the book.

Background

The series 'IT: Welcome to Derry' premiered in 2025 and was set 27 years before the events of the first 'It' film. It was renewed for a second season in August 2026, more than eight months after Season 1 ended. The show is part of the same universe as Andy Muschietti's 'It' movies and is planned to span three seasons, each adapting a major catastrophic event from Stephen King's novel interludes: the burning of the Black Spot in 1962 (Season 1), the Bradley Gang massacre in 1935 (Season 2), and an Easter egg hunt explosion in 1908 (Season 3).

Why it matters

The surprise release of 'A Story of Derry' expands the lore of the 'It' universe by detailing the origins of the entity and the sacred pillars that contain it, providing context for events in Season 1. The announcement of Season 2's focus on the 1935 Bradley Gang massacre confirms the show's long-term narrative structure, aligning with the three major catastrophic events described in Stephen King's novel interludes. This reinforces the show's commitment to adapting key historical moments from the source material and maintains audience engagement between seasons.

What to watch

HBO Max will likely continue to release surprise content or promotional material for 'IT: Welcome to Derry' in the lead-up to Season 2. The second season, set in 1935, is expected to adapt the 'Derry Interlude' chapter from Stephen King's novel, focusing on the Bradley Gang massacre. The show is planned to span three seasons, with the third season likely covering the 1908 Easter egg hunt explosion.