New Welcome to Derry bonus episode is here on HBO Max

Liam Brooks 10/31/2026

The lurking terror of Derry is about to get a deep dive, thanks to HBO Max’s Halloween surprise. Fans of the horror landscape are diving into the deep end with a brand-new bonus episode of the beloved series, IT: Welcome to Derry.

Titled A Story of Derry, this never-before-seen 30-minute special peels back the curtain on the terrifying origins of IT itself. It takes viewers back hundreds of years to explore the dark history that birthed the legend of Pennywise, tracing the terrifying encounter between three youngsters and an ancient, malevolent spirit lurking in the Western Wood.

This cinematic prequel offers a chilling glimpse into the mythology that underpins the horror, establishing the deep, ancient roots of the dread that defines Derry.

But the horror doesn’t stop there. As viewers immerse themselves in this history, the anticipation for what comes next is already boiling over. Pennywise is not done with HBO, and the franchise is gearing up for a dramatic, blood-soaked journey into the past for the upcoming season.

The next installment of IT: Welcome to Derry will transport the narrative back to 1935, twenty-seven years before the events of the first season. This new era shifts the focus to the harrowing and bloody massacre of the Bradley Gang—a group of bank robbers who found themselves hopelessly entangled in the chaos of Derry.

Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane is bringing a radically different palette to the franchise, promising a narrative that is both exciting and intensely visceral. He suggests that Season 2 will infuse the story with the grit of the Depression era, filtered through the lens of a Warner Bros. gangster picture, all steeped in the darker shadow of Stephen King and Pennywise.

“We are deep into the writers’ room, and we have multiple scripts for Season 2,” Kane shared. “We are edging into pre-production, and I can tell you it’s going to be very, very bloody and very different from Season 1.”

With the new special providing a fascinating look at the deep history of Derry, and the upcoming season promising a gritty, violent look at the Prohibition-era underworld, the journey into the heart of the horror world is about to become even more unforgettable. Stream A Story of Derry on HBO Max now and prepare for a season that promises to redefine fear.