The fear-inducing clown from the unknown will return to spread turmoil once again in season two of the hit series “IT: Welcome to Derry”, HBO officially confirmed.
Season one brought viewers back to1962, opening the door to a deeper exploration of the cryptid known as “Pennywise the Dancing Clown” and its ties to fictional town Derry, Maine.
But it looks like IT is taking another step back in the timeline – this time to 1935.
Pennywise goes back in time
“IT: Welcome to Derry” expanded the world of Stephen King’s 1986 beloved novel, which terrified a generation of horror fans.
The series was set years before the events of the recent two-part film reboot “It” (2017) and “It: Chapter 2” (2019).
It was welcomed by audiences, garnering 5.7 million viewers in the first three days of its debut in the United States alone, according to data cited by The Wrap.
Season two is expected to further deepen the lore of Pennywise, the killer clown with a penchant for fear.
It will particularly centre around the bloody massacre of the Bradley Gang in 1935, a group of bank robbers who arrive in Derry to purchase ammunition, only to “end up facing unimaginable horror,” as per the log line.
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What fans can expect
Head of HBO Max Original Programming Sarah Aubrey promised fans more terror, more mystery and more Pennywise lore.
“We are excited to return to the chilling world of Derry and to further expand on Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti’s horrifically iconic adaptation,” Head of HBO Max Original Programming Sarah Aubrey was quoted as saying by Deadline.
Brad Caleb Kane is set to return as the sole showrunner after working with Jason Fuchs in the first season.
Sibling duo Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti will also be back to mould the direction of season two under their Double Dream banner.
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More mystery, more misery
A writers’ room already opened before the official announcement of the series’ renewal, and Andy told Variety earlier there would be “a lot of that depression-era hustling in the air in our characters.”
The series does not shy away from using major and real events in US history as a backdrop to the main story, providing audiences the chance to look back and ponder the major cultural shifts in that era.
Season one particularly tackled racial tension and the Cold War in the 1960s. Season two, on the other hand, will delve into the Great Depression.
“Everybody’s trying to get by and survive the circumstances. They are gonna do crazy things,” Andy said.
“And of course, the social, cultural, horrible things that were happening in the era, too. We’re not going to skip those. [They are the] very centre and the heart of our story.”
A change in scenery
Andy also compared the aesthetics of the two seasons.
The first season, he said, examined evil hiding beneath suburban comfort — a contrast to the second season, which will peel back those layers to let the misery show.
“They’re in a very different situation. Some of them are orphans or runaways, and so the environment is pretty bleak.”
“But there’s always the aspect of hope that is always there, burning, and it’s what keeps our new group going.”
Who will step in the roles of this unfortunate new group has not been revealed yet, but one character is certain to return: Pennywise itself.
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