The highly anticipated horror series “It: Welcome to Derry” made a significant impact during its initial three-day release, drawing an impressive 5.7 million viewers. This viewership figure, which combines Nielsen measurements from HBO’s linear channel and Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming data for HBO Max, positions the series as the third most-watched premiere since the launch of HBO Max. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, only “House of the Dragon” and “The Last of Us” have surpassed this record, with “House of the Dragon” premiering with just under 10 million viewers and “The Last of Us” with 4.7 million, both measured in a single day.

“It: Welcome to Derry” delves into the chilling world established by Stephen King’s iconic 1986 novel “It.” The series serves as an expansion of the cinematic universe first brought to life by Andy Muschietti’s feature films “It” (2017) and “It Chapter Two” (2019). This new installment is an origin story, exploring the terrifying beginnings of the child-hunting clown monster, Pennywise.

Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as the menacing Pennywise, bringing the character’s sinister presence back to the screen. The cast features a talented ensemble including Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Blake Cameron James, Arian S. Cartaya, Amanda Christine, Matilda Lawler, Clara Stack, Madeleine Stowe, and Rudy Mancuso.

The series was developed for television by Andy Muschietti, alongside his sister Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. The executive production team includes the Muschiettis through their Double Dream production company, Fuchs, Skarsgård, Brad Caleb Kane, David Coatsworth, Shelley Meals, Roy Lee, and Dan Lin. Jason Fuchs penned the first episode and serves as co-showrunner with Brad Caleb Kane, while Andy Muschietti directed multiple episodes, ensuring a cohesive vision for this horror prequel.