IT: Welcome to Derry Cast – Full List of Actors

There’s something about Derry that keeps pulling us back. The small Maine town has been the setting of Stephen King’s most terrifying stories, and now a new HBO Max series, IT: Welcome to Derry, promises to expand the mythos. With Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise and a cast full of fresh faces, the prequel is shaping up to be one of 2025’s most anticipated horror series. Here’s a breakdown of who’s who in the show.

Release Date: October 26, 2025 ·
Network: HBO Max ·
Based on: IT by Stephen King ·
Developed by: Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti ·
Main Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo

Six key facts about the series, one pattern: the cast blends returning talent with entirely new characters built for the prequel narrative.

Who plays Pennywise in IT: Welcome to Derry?

Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as the clown Pennywise.

• Bill Skarsgård is confirmed to return as the shape-shifting cosmic entity that takes the form of a clown (IMDb).
• Skarsgård previously played Pennywise in IT (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019) (IMDb (actor profile)).
• The character remains the primary antagonist, though the prequel may explore his origins more deeply (Vague Visages (entertainment coverage site)).

The implication: Casting Skarsgård signals that the series intends to maintain the same cinematic universe as the Muschietti films, rather than a full reboot.

What is the release date of Welcome to Derry?

The series is set to premiere on October 26, 2025.

• The series premieres on HBO Max on October 26, 2025 (HBO Max’s official YouTube channel).
• IMDb also lists the United States release date as October 26, 2025 (IMDb).
• No exact premiere time has been announced as of early 2025.

What this means: The Halloween season premiere is a deliberate choice — it places the show right in the horror sweet spot, giving viewers a chance to binge before Halloween night.

Who are the main cast members in Welcome to Derry?

• Jovan Adepo plays Leroy Hanlon (IMDb).
• Taylour Paige plays Charlotte Hanlon (IMDb).
• Stephen Rider plays Hank Grogan (IMDb).
• Matilda Lawler plays Marge Truman (IMDb).
• Chris Chalk plays Dick Hallorann — a character from King’s The Shining universe, connecting the series to a broader Stephen King mythology (IMDb).
• James Remar plays General Francis Shaw (IMDb).
• Madeleine Stowe plays Ingrid Kersh (IMDb).
• Peter Outerbridge plays Chief Clint Bowers (IMDb).
• Thomas Mitchell plays Colonel Fuller (IMDb).
• Kimberly Guerrero plays Rose, Joshua Odjick plays Taniel, and other supporting roles round out the adult cast (IMDb).

Pattern here: Most of the adult roles are original creations not drawn directly from King’s novel, giving the writers room to build new lore around familiar threats.

Who are the kid cast members in IT: Welcome to Derry?

Child actors portray younger versions of key characters in the 1960s timeline.

• Amanda Christine plays Ronnie Grogan (IMDb).
• Clara Stack plays Lilly Bainbridge (IMDb).
• Blake Cameron James plays Will Hanlon (IMDb).
• Arian S. Cartaya plays Rich Santos (IMDb).
• Miles Ekhardt appears in the cast, though his role is not yet detailed (IMDb).

The trade-off: The kid cast may not be the Losers’ Club from the films — these are new children of Derry, which means the series can explore fresh dynamics without retreading existing stories.

How many episodes does IT: Welcome to Derry have and is there a season 2?

Episode count and renewal status for the prequel series.

• Brit + Co reports that the series has 8 episodes in season 1 (Brit + Co (lifestyle media platform)).
• No official episode count has been confirmed by HBO Max.
• Season 2 has not been announced, but the series may be planned for multiple seasons given the scope of King’s material.

The catch: Without a formal episode count or renewal, viewers should expect a tight eight-episode arc that could work as a limited series or a first chapter.

Timeline of key developments

The series’ production timeline shows a steady progression from announcement to filming to premiere.

The implication: The timeline confirms the series has been in development for two years before its expected premiere, a typical production cycle for a high-budget streaming series.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

The pattern: Most casting details are confirmed through IMDb and official trailers, while episode counts and second season remain under wraps.

Key statements about the series

“Welcome to Derry premieres October 26 on HBO Max.”

— HBO Max official trailer (primary promotional source)

“The series is set in the 1960s, 27 years before the events of the 2017 film.”

— Wikipedia entry for It – Welcome to Derry

The prequel’s 1960s setting gives the show a distinct identity. Unlike the films, which jump between the 1980s and the present day, Welcome to Derry anchors its story in a period before the Losers’ Club was even born. For fans of King’s world, the chance to see Derry during a different cycle of Pennywise’s awakening adds a layer of dread that the films only hinted at.

For HBO Max, the series is a clear bet on franchise expansion. The streaming landscape has seen mixed results from King adaptations, but Welcome to Derry has two advantages: a beloved returning lead in Bill Skarsgård and a creative team (the Muschiettis) who already proved they can translate King’s dense prose into compelling visual horror. The choice is clear: either this becomes a must-watch event that brings together film fans, King readers, and horror-curious streamers, or it risks getting lost in the Halloween season’s crowded release slate.

Fans eager to see who joins Pennywise in Derry can check out the complete Welcome to Derry cast list for every confirmed actor and character.

Frequently asked questions

The upshot: These answers cover the core questions viewers have about the series, addressing both confirmed details and lingering uncertainties.