It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 is moving forward with Ethan King, Stephen King’s grandson, joining the writing team. The story shifts to 1935 during the Great Depression and will explore the Bradley Gang massacre. HBO has not announced a filming start or release date for the new season yet.
What Is the Latest It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 Update?
Image © 2013 Michael Tacktt / CBS
It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 is moving forward with a major writing update. Brad Caleb Kane has confirmed that Ethan King, Stephen King’s grandson, has joined the writing team for the second season. The story moves back to 1935, during the Great Depression, and focuses on the Bradley Gang massacre. HBO has not announced a filming start or release date so far.
How Far Along Is It: Welcome to Derry Season 2’s Writing and Production?
Writing is active, but production has not started. Kane said the team is “having fun right now in the writers’ room, building that story.” He confirmed Ethan King’s role, saying, “King’s grandson Ethan is writing for season 2.” Kane returns as sole showrunner after sharing duties with Jason Fuchs on the first season.
- Ethan King joins: Ethan King has joined the writing staff, but his exact episode assignment has not been revealed.
- Kane praises him: Kane called Ethan “brilliant and really smart” and “a chip off the old block.”
- Renewal confirmed: HBO officially renewed the prequel series for Season 2 in August 2026.
- Filming timeline: MovieWeb reports production is slated for summer 2027, but HBO has not confirmed that schedule.
- Executive producers: Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti remain executive producers behind the series.
What Will It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 Explore in 1935?
The next season goes 27 years further into Derry’s past. Kane said, “We’re doing 1935 in Derry,” and described the period as shaped by “the Depression, bank robbers… Hoovervilles… religious fanaticism.” The Bradley Gang storyline, taken from Stephen King’s It, follows a group of bank robbers caught in Derry’s violent history. Season 2 has a clear historical frame, but Pennywise’s exact role in the massacre remains unknown.
- Gangster influence: Kane described the season as “a Warner Bros. gangster picture through the lens of Pennywise and Stephen King.”
- Darker tone: He said it will be “very, very bloody” and have a “different palette” from the first season.
- Bradley Gang focus: The bloody massacre of the Bradley Gang will be a major story point.
- Pennywise’s role: Kane said the creature can “weaponise” the fears of that era, but the exact plot remains hidden.
- Long-term structure: The 27-year format follows Andy Muschietti’s vision of exploring Derry’s past through interlude chapters from Stephen King’s novel.
- Still unknown: HBO has not revealed the full cast, exact plot, or release date for the new season.
Final Thoughts
It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 is opening new ground for the television series by moving deeper into Derry’s past. The creative team is building the next chapter around the Bradley Gang massacre, the Great Depression, and Pennywise’s influence. HBO has not confirmed when production will start filming or when the season will premiere.
FAQs
Yes, the season renewal is confirmed, and Brad Caleb Kane is leading the second season as sole showrunner.
The story moves to 1935 and explores the Bradley Gang, a group of bank robbers whose violent fate is connected to Derry’s dark history.
Pennywise remains central to the show’s concept, with the new story continuing the Pennywise lore that fans know from Stephen King’s It.
ScreenRant reports a three-season plan built around moving backward through Derry’s history in 27-year jumps, following the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti.
HBO has not announced an official filming date, although MovieWeb reports that production is slated for summer 2027.