It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 – What We Know About the Next Chapter of the HBO Horror Spin-Off

Welcome to Derry was one of the standout shows of 2025, and it’s no wonder horror enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating a second season. While the HBO series hasn’t received an official renewal yet, there are plenty of signs pointing to its return sooner rather than later.

The season 1 finale featured Lilly, Ronnie, and Marge teaming up to rescue Will from the infamous killer clown, while the Hanlons sought help from a disoriented Hallorann for their own mission. The two groups converged on the outskirts of Derry as General Shaw and his troops moved in to protect Pennywise. Given the show’s prequel nature, it was expected that good would prevail, sending It back into hibernation and granting the townsfolk 27 years of peace.

Thanks to Andy Muschietti’s films, we know that the next time Pennywise reemerges is in late 1988, when George Denbrough meets his tragic fate while retrieving his paper boat from a gutter. So, where does the show go from here? We’ll explore that as we await the likely greenlight for season 2. Here’s what we know about a potential It: Welcome to Derry season 2, including plot and release date speculation, returning cast members, and more.

At this point, it’s tough to predict when season 2 might air if it gets the green light, but we’ll keep you updated. Once production kicks off, it’ll be easier to make guesses. For now, we know from a recent report that director Andy Muschietti is working on more episodes behind the scenes.

Season 1 began filming in May 2023, with an expected wrap in December. However, production faced delays due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, halting from July 2023 until February 2024, and ultimately finishing in August 2024.

On December 11, Stephen King hinted on Threads that the last episode of season 1 would be mind-blowing. While that’s high praise, it’s the brackets that piqued our interest. Could HBO surprise us with a second season in 2026? It seems unlikely, but we can’t help but reminisce about the days of annual releases and hope for their return.

Currently, there’s no trailer for season 2 of It: Welcome to Derry, but we’ll let you know as soon as it drops.

Before the premiere of It: Welcome to Derry, director and executive producer Andy Muschietti shared that season 2 is set in 1935. He also revealed that the second chapter will focus on the Bradley Gang Massacre, a pivotal event in Derry’s dark history that has already been referenced in the show.

Muschietti previously mentioned, “There is an intentional bigger arc that will open. My intention with this was to create a story that is a little bit like an iceberg under the water all through seasons 1, 2, and 3. There will be an expansion in the mythology and more answers to the big questions.” The second season will delve into the events of 1935, hinting at the reasons for the two additional seasons and their backward storytelling approach.

In the source material, Mike Hanlon learns from pharmacist Dr. Keene that Machen Sporting Goods, once owned by Lal Machen in the early ’30s, was manipulated by It to rally the townsfolk against the Bradley Gang. After the gang placed a large order for firearms, Machen encouraged his friends to bring their weapons to a specific intersection, leading to a bloody confrontation where the Bradleys met their end.

The aftermath of this massacre is hinted at in the season finale, with Hallorann and Shaw discovering the gang’s skeletons in a car, complete with cash and vintage Tommy guns.

If season 1 is any indication, we can expect a mix of original characters and new storylines, with the Bradley Gang Massacre at the heart of the narrative.

Since season 2 takes place nearly 30 years before season 1, it’s unlikely we’ll see the younger characters Lilly, Will, Ronnie, and Marge again. Lilly’s line, “I guess it’ll be someone else’s fight,” reinforces this theory. However, given the flashbacks from 1908 in the first season, flashforwards could still be a possibility, as hinted by the executive producers.

With Dick Hallorann heading to London for a new job, it seems unlikely that Rich will return for season 2, whether through flashforwards or not.

General Shaw, who appeared as a child in the 1908 flashback, expressed a desire to leave Derry, suggesting he won’t be back for the next installment. The same goes for Charlotte and Leroy Hanlon, who moved to Derry in episode 1.

However, characters like Rose and Ingrid Gray/Kersh, who have lived in Derry their entire lives, could realistically return. Ingrid was portrayed by Emma-Leigh Cullum in the 1908 flashbacks and by Tyner Rushing in the 1935 segments, making their return likely.

The only confirmed returning cast member at this point appears to be Bill Skarsgård, as no It story would be complete without him.

While season 2 hasn’t been officially announced, it’s reasonable to believe that HBO will allow Andy Muschietti and his team to complete their vision for It: Welcome to Derry.

Before the first episode even aired, Muschietti outlined a three-season plan for the series. He indicated that season 3 would take place in 1908, a time we’ve already glimpsed in flashbacks during season 1. This year marks the moment It first adopted the Pennywise persona after witnessing a clown act and killing the performer.

Although season 1 didn’t cover it, Muschietti teased that season 3 would focus on the Kitchener Ironworks explosion, a tragic event briefly mentioned in the book. This disaster resulted in the deaths of 88 children and 14 adults during an Easter egg hunt gone horribly wrong in the early 1900s. In the original novel, the explosion occurs in 1906, but the show aligns with Muschietti’s films, necessitating a timeline adjustment.

It: Welcome to Derry is currently streaming.