Andy and Barbara Muschietti, alongside Jason Fuchs, have brought the chilling prequel series, IT: Welcome to Derry, to HBO Max, diving deep into Stephen King's cursed town of Derry, Maine. Set in 1962, the eight-episode series follows the Hanlon family – U.S. Air Force Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), his wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige), and son Will (Blake Cameron James) – as they uncover the town's sinister secrets following a boy's disappearance and the return of the evil entity Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). The Muschiettis, known for their work on IT and IT Chapter Two, have expanded King's mythology, venturing into previously unexplored territory, including the long-debated origin of Pennywise as the down-on-his-luck circus performer Bob Gray.

The series meticulously crafts the backstory of Pennywise, presenting Bob Gray not as a serial killer but as a layered, three-dimensional character. This portrayal, heavily influenced by Bill Skarsgård's ideas during early conversations, depicts Gray as a once-celebrated circus clown who descended into alcoholism and depression after his wife's death, finding his only hope in his daughter, Ingrid. This exploration offers crumbs of his past in his two pivotal scenes, revealing a man who, despite his flaws, still strives to do the right thing, before being consumed by IT. The creators emphasize that the evil force originates solely from IT, which shapeshifted into a clown to lure children, rather than from Gray's inherent nature.

IT: Welcome to Derry also excels in its character development, particularly through the intricate arcs of its ensemble. Leroy Hanlon's journey is one of profound disillusionment as he confronts the corrupt and racist system he once believed in, ultimately aligning with his wife Charlotte's perspective. His ordeal in finding his son, Will, forces a crucial understanding and common ground between a father and son with differing natures. Similarly, Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) embarks on a path of self-discovery, evolving from a seemingly selfish individual to a more selfless person, a transformation that begins to set him on the trajectory towards his role in The Shining. His dynamic with Leroy highlights how disparate men can have their perceptions of the world and themselves altered by extraordinary encounters.

The young cast, including Jovan Adepo (Leroy), Taylour Paige (Charlotte), Blake Cameron James (Will), Matilda Lawler (Marge), Clara Stack (Lilly), Arian Cartaya (Rich), and Amanda Christine (Ronnie), delivered powerful performances, carrying heavy emotional beats throughout the season. Co-creator Jason Fuchs praised their ability to embody complex emotions, particularly highlighting the heartbreaking first love story between Rich and Marge. The revelation that Marge is Margaret Tozier, Richie's future mother, adds another layer of tragic irony and connection to the broader IT universe, a detail fans were quick to decipher due to their deep engagement with the source material.

The production faced significant challenges, especially in crafting the series finale. Andy Muschietti aimed for a visually haunting, mystifying, and spectacular conclusion that could tie up multiple emotional arcs within a single, extended episode. Barbara Muschietti, as a producer, wrestled with her brother's continuous creative evolution, which often led to an increase in scope and complexity, demanding strategic planning and sacrifices to achieve their ambitious vision. The showrunners also deliberately blend human, psychological, and gross-out horror, with scenes like Pennywise consuming Mr. Kersh's head like a