Comic-Con Reveals Bloodcurdling IT Welcome to Derry Teaser, Exploring Pennywise’s Origins

Originally posted on Total Apex Entertainment
By Liesel Booker | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 1:30 PM ET

Horror fans were pleased when Comic-Con dropped the teaser for IT Welcome to Derry, a prequel to the popular Stephen King IT book and film series. With the tagline, “Go back to where IT all began,” the teaser demonstrates chilling visuals and introduces us to new characters.

The IT Welcome to Derry Teaser

The teaser, which dropped at San Diego Comic-Con, gives us a look at Derry in the 1960s. Children are going missing, and, of course, a group of kids band together to figure out what’s going on. We glimpse Pennywise’s famous red balloon eerily floating by. Other creepy visuals include possessed-looking children with their eyes whited out and a child handcuffed to a chair. Stephen King fans will also notice a “Shawshank State Prison” easter egg.

(Trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry, courtesy of HBO Max)

So Where Is Pennywise?

The teaser keeps the famous evil clown hidden for the most part. However, we see an abandoned circus wagon with the name “Pennywise” on the side, which might indicate that IT stole the identity of an actual human clown. If that is true, then it adds a whole new level of creepiness to Pennywise. Perhaps the real Pennywise used to be a regular performer before IT devoured his soul. In addition, the last shot of the teaser shows a silhouette of a figure that appears to be Pennywise, offering his hand to someone offscreen.

Image of IT Welcome to Derry courtesy of HBO Max

Where Can I Watch IT Welcome to Derry?

The show will premiere in October on HBO Max, just in time for Halloween. It looks like the perfect show to get you in the spooky mood. While the teaser doesn’t advertise anything particularly new or groundbreaking, it promises to be full of scares. When Pennywise does appear in all his evil glory, he will no doubt still be as terrifying as the clowns that scared you when you were a kid. Stephen King fans should find a lot to like in IT Welcome to Derry.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Entertainment and was syndicated with permission.

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