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'It' Prequel Series Coming to Terrify You on HBO Max

The working title for the drama series set in Stephen King's universe is Welcome to Derry.

Meara Isenberg Writer
Meara covers streaming service news for CNET. She recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she wrote for her college newspaper, The Daily Texan, as well as for state and local magazines. When she's not writing, she likes to dote over her cat, sip black coffee and try out new horror movies.
Meara Isenberg
Warner Bros It movie

Prepare to return to the haunted city of Derry, Maine. 

Warner Bros.

The working title for what will surely be a terrifying new HBO Max television series doesn't hint at much to fear.

HBO Max has ordered to series Welcome to Derry, a prequel to 2017's It and 2019's It Chapter Two, which both feature evil clown Pennywise. It'll be based on Stephen King's 1986 horror novel. Multiple episodes of the drama will be directed by Andy Muschietti, the director of the It films who's also executive producing along with Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane. 

According to a statement Thursday from Sarah Aubrey, head of original content at HBO Max, the series will "bring fans deeper into the terrifying, mesmerizing town of Derry." Thursday's news confirms earlier reports that an It prequel series was in the works at HBO Max.

"I'm excited that the story of Derry, Maine's most haunted city, is continuing..." King said in a statement. "Red balloons all around."

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