On the way from HBO Max is a series titled “Welcome to Derry,” which will serve as a prequel to the two Stephen King movies from Andy Muschietti, and THR reports this afternoon that the project has now officially been given a straight-to-series order!
Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti (IT, IT: Chapter Two) and Jason Fuchs are on board the Pennywise prequel project from Warner Bros. Television, THR also notes today. “Andy Muschietti will direct multiple episodes of the series, including the first episode.”
Variety had reported last year, “The series will begin in the 1960s in the time leading up to the events of It: Part One, the 2017 film based on the Stephen King horror novel. The story is also said to include the origin story of Pennywise the Clown.”
Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, Ice Age: Continental Drift) and Brad Caleb Kane (“Moonhaven,” “Black Sails,” “Fringe”) will serve as co-showrunners for the prequel series.
“As teenagers, we took turns reading chapters of Stephen King’s IT until the thick paperback fell to pieces,” the Muschiettis said in a statement. “IT is an epic story that contains multitudes, far beyond what we could explore in our IT movies. We can’t wait to share the depths of Steve’s novel, in all its heart, humor, humanity and horror.”
“I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara,” Stephen King said. “Red balloons all around!”
“To be able to return to the world of my all-time favorite horror novel and help build upon the singularly brilliant cinematic universe created by Andy and Barbara is more than the opportunity of a lifetime, it’s a dream come true — or, maybe more appropriately, a nightmare,” Fuchs said.
“We are thrilled to continue this iconic franchise with the brilliant Andy and Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane,” said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max. “This prequel will expand the IT storytelling canvas and bring fans deeper into the terrifying, mesmerizing town of Derry.”
Published in 1986, Stephen King’s massive novel was of course first turned into a mini-series in 1990, with Tim Curry playing the role later played by Bill Skarsgård in the movies.
The tale centers on the town of Derry, Maine, where a group of friends called the Losers’ Club battle Pennywise the killer clown first as kids, and then 27 years later as adults.
In anticipation, you can stream our weekly Stephen King podcast, The Losers’ Club, who spoke to Stephen King himself about the series last year.
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