Will There Be Season 2 of IT: Welcome to Derry? Renewal Status, Release Date Predictions & What We Know

Ever since IT: Welcome to Derry unleashed Pennywise back onto HBO screens, one question has dominated horror fans’ searches:

Will IT: Welcome to Derry return for Season 2?

The short answer: Not officially yet — but all signs point to yes.The long answer? Let’s break it down properly.

🎈 What Is IT: Welcome to Derry?

IT: Welcome to Derry is an American supernatural horror TV series based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel It. The show serves as a prequel to It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), exploring Derry’s dark past decades before the Losers’ Club.

The series is developed by:

• Andy Muschietti

• Barbara Muschietti

• Jason Fuchs

All three were deeply involved in the blockbuster It films.

The show premiered on HBO on October 26, 2025, with Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise, instantly reigniting global interest in the franchise.

📺 Has IT: Welcome to Derry Been Renewed for Season 2?

🔴 Official Status (As of December 2025)

No. HBO has not officially renewed IT: Welcome to Derry for Season 2 yet.

However, that doesn’t tell the full story.

📈 Why Season 2 Is Very Likely to Happen

Despite the lack of an official announcement, several major factors strongly suggest that Season 2 is coming.

1️⃣ Massive Viewership Success

According to internal data and industry reports:

• IT: Welcome to Derry became HBO Max’s third most-watched series launch

• It ranked just behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us

For HBO, that’s not just good — that’s franchise-level success.

2️⃣ A Planned Three-Season Story

Co-creator Andy Muschietti has publicly stated that:

• He envisions IT: Welcome to Derry as a three-season series

• Each season would explore a different historical cycle of Pennywise’s terror

In other words, Season 1 was never meant to be the end.

3️⃣ Strong Critical Reception

While not flawless, Season 1 received generally positive reviews, with praise for:

• Production value

• Direction

• Performances (especially Bill Skarsgård)

• Atmosphere and lore expansion

Criticism was mostly limited to:

• Some visual effects

• Select writing choices

None of which typically stop HBO from renewing a hit show.

🧠 What Could Season 2 Be About?

Season 1 is set in 1962, one of Pennywise’s previous feeding cycles.

If the creators stick to Stephen King’s lore and Muschietti’s long-term plan, Season 2 could:

• Jump further back in Derry’s history

• Explore an earlier Pennywise awakening

• Introduce new families, tragedies, and town secrets

• Expand the mythology hinted at in the films

Rather than a direct continuation, Season 2 is expected to feel like a new chapter in the same cursed town.

📅 IT: Welcome to Derry Season 2 Release Date Prediction

⚠️ Important Context

Season 1 had a very long production timeline:

• Development began: March 2022

• Filming started: May 2023

• Filming halted due to the SAG-AFTRA strike

• Filming wrapped: August 2024

• Premiere: October 2025

That’s over two years from greenlight to release.

🗓️ Most Likely Release Window

If HBO renews the series in 2026, then:

👉 The earliest realistic release date for Season 2 would be sometime in 2027.

A 2026 release is extremely unlikely, given:

• Scale of production

• Heavy VFX requirements

• Andy Muschietti’s film commitments

🤡 Will Bill Skarsgård Return as Pennywise?

Almost certainly.

Bill Skarsgård:

• Reprises Pennywise in Season 1

• Is credited as an executive producer

• Has expressed enthusiasm for expanding Pennywise’s mythology

Given the show’s success, it’s hard to imagine HBO continuing without him.

🧟 Why HBO Is Taking Its Time With the Renewal

HBO is known for delayed renewals, especially for high-budget genre shows.

Reasons include:

• Budget negotiations

• Long-term scheduling

• Coordinating major creative talent

House of the Dragon and The Last of Us both experienced similar waiting periods before renewals were confirmed.

🩸 Final Verdict: Will IT: Welcome to Derry Get Season 2?

While HBO hasn’t made it official yet, everything points toward yes.

✔ Huge viewership

✔ Strong brand recognition

✔ A planned multi-season arc

✔ Stephen King’s enduring popularity

✔ Pennywise still printing money

The real question isn’t

if Season 2 will happen —it’s when HBO decides to announce it.