Welcome To Derry Seasons 2 & 3's Most Important Story Change From Season 1 Teased By Andy & Barbara Muschietti

IT: Welcome to Derry is continuing to evolve its storytelling moving into its upcoming seasons.

IT: Welcome to Derry is an HBO horror show, based on the Stephen King novel, IT. Welcome to Derry’s first season was very popular, and it earned an 81% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, along with an 82% positive rating from audiences. The show is planned for three seasons so far, with the next season taking place around 1935.

In an interview with IndieWire, Andy Muschietti, co-creator and director of IT: Welcome to Derry, as well as his sister, Barbara Muschietti, also a co-creator, discussed story changes, progress, and future. Andy elaborated that season 1 centers on “the weaponization of fear.” But moving forward, future installments will tackle “the weaponization of faith” and “the weaponization of love.”

Season 1 takes place in 1962, and it covers many elements of what small towns struggled with, including racism, economic decline, and violence. Stephen King has been more involved with the TV series than their movie counterparts, and moving forward, Barbara said, “We’re incredibly lucky because Stephen is so generous allowing us to do this,” she continued, “He reads everything before it’s put into motion, and he’s been so supportive.”

His continued involvement in the show’s vision has allowed the creative team to incorporate new additions. These changes to the 1986 book version allow for Pennywise to be explored further, and it lets the series’ creative team, in particular, explore political ramifications in today’s day and age.

On these ramifications, Andy said, “We live in a time where fearmongering is practiced a lot. People should know that it’s a construction — not everything that comes from ‘up there’ is true. It’s orchestrated to divide us and make us fear each other for profit.” And given that season 1 explores “the weaponization of fear”, future seasons will tackle “the weaponization of faith, and the weaponization of love.”

Brooke Palmer/HBO

This “weaponization of faith,” then moving forward, suggests how the creative team are going to further explore their central character, and cosmic being. Pennywise changes form and causes people to experience superstitious levels of panic. By staying close to King’s original ideas and questions, the team could branch out, and overlap with elements of today’s political climate.

In this regard, Barbara said, “We are living in a world where the weaponization of fear is something that has to be fought daily… If we are not aware, and if we don’t fight it, we will succumb like Derry.” And with this being said, and adding to where the creative team’s focus may lie, Andy said, “We need young people to be writing cries against fascism like ‘The Long Walk.’”

The “weaponization of love,” comments could be suggestive of the children’s friendships (The Losers Club), and other prominent emotional character bonds. By weaponizing a grieving parent, a child’s trust, or two lovers’ disagreements, it could be suggestive of not only a genre shift, but a shift in the show’s focus.

Given IT: Welcome to Derry’s high praise and ratings, fans are excited about the next season. Currently, there is no official release date, but it has been speculated that it will be released in either late 2027 or early 2028.

It: Welcome to Derry season 1 can be streamed on HBO Max.