HBO’s Darker ‘Stranger Things’ Replacement Has Become an All-Time Streaming Hit

HBO’s Darker ‘Stranger Things’ Replacement Has Become an All-Time Streaming Hit Rudy Mancuso as Captain Pauly Russo looking to the left in the woods with cloudy eyes in IT: Welcome to DerryImage via HBO By  Adam Blevins Published 10 minutes ago Adam Blevins began working in the entertainment industry in 2022 as a Staff Writer for Agents of Fandom, where he progressed to Senior Editor and interviewed talent from Marvel Studios, House of the Dragon, and Planet of the Apes. He joined Collider as a News Author in April 2024, was promoted to a Senior position in December 2024, and has written over 3,000 articles for the site, including exclusives relating to Avengers: Doomsday, The Penguin, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and more. He primarily writes about the latest box office numbers and the hottest movies and TV shows on streaming, while also covering superhero and sci-fi news. He has completed a set visit for The Chosen and even has several months of experience writing Gaming Features at ScreenRant. You can find him on X, LinkedIn, and Muckrack. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

HBO’s dark new fantasy horror sequel is quietly becoming one of the platform’s biggest streaming hits of all time. On October 26, HBO debuted the first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry, the body horror series that serves as a prequel to the popular IT movies. The first five episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry are now streaming on HBO Max, and the show has yet to be dethroned at the top of streaming charts. It’s #1 by a wide margin on HBO, even beating other shows such as The Seduction, Task, The Chair Company, and Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking.

IT: Welcome to Derry stars Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, James Remar as General Francis Shaw, Matilda Lawler as Marge Truman, Amanda Christine as Ronnie Grogan, Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge, and Chris Calk as Dick Hallorann. Bill Skarsgård can also be seen reprising his role as Pennywise in the series, which is based on the popular novel from acclaimed horror author Stephen King. Skarsgård’s Pennywise has taken several forms in the HBO series, but all are equally terrifying. At the time of writing, IT: Welcome to Derry sits at scores of 79% from critics and 76% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. It's also drawing comparisons to Netflix's Stranger Things, largely due to the horror elements and kid stars.

Andy Muschietti, who directed both IT movies, wrote and created IT: Welcome to Derry with his wife Barbara and Jason Fuchs. Guadalís Del Carmen, Jasmyne Flournoy, Brad Kane, Austin Guzman, Helen Shang, Gabriel Hobson, and Cord Jefferson all work in the writer’s room for the show. Muschietti has also been tapped to direct The Brave and the Bold, the Batman movie in James Gunn’s DCU, but the film is seemingly stuck in development limbo. There have been no concrete announcements or updates in a while.

When Do New Episodes of ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ Come Out?

New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry begin streaming exclusively on HBO every Sunday at 9 PM EST. The first five episodes are now available to stream on the platform, and there will be three more episodes until the season finale airs on December 14. IT: Welcome to Derry has not officially been renewed, but Muschietti has shared that there is a three-season plan for the show. Considering the strong viewership and solid reviews, it would be surprising if this plan isn't seen through to completion.

Watch the first five episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the show.

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It: Welcome to Derry

Like Follow Followed TV-MA Horror Mystery Drama Release Date October 26, 2025 Network HBO Directors Andy Muschietti Writers Jason Fuchs, Stephen King, Austin Guzman Franchise(s) IT 8 Images Dick Hallorann with his eyes wide looking angry in It Welcome to DerryBill Skarsgard's Pennywise in IT Welcome to Derry trailer 2Image courtesy of HBO MaxKid similing in IT Welcome To DerryImage via HBO MaxIt: Welcome to Derry teens looking surprised at something off screenImage via HBOClose

Cast

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• Taylour Paige Charlotte Hanlon
• Jovan Adepo Leroy Hanlon

Genres Horror, Mystery, Drama Creator(s) Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs Powered by Expand Collapse

• TV News
• IT: Welcome to Derry
• HBO Max

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