After only one week, HBO is already switching up It: Welcome to Derry‘s release schedule with a strategic change to episode 2’s premiere. The episode, titled “The Thing in the Dark,” was written by Austin Guzman and directed by Andy Muschietti, one of the co-creators of the series.
Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to Muschietti’s It movies, which notably adapted Stephen King’s It novel. While many of Welcome to Derry‘s characters will be unfamiliar to fans of the story, the show does feature figures connected to the existing franchise and wider Stephen King universe.
The development of a prequel series began in 2022, three years after the release of It: Chapter Two. After various delays, mainly due to the Hollywood labor strikes, It: Welcome to Derry made its debut on Sunday, October 26th. That said, many won’t have to wait the entire week for Welcome to Derry episode 2 to drop.
It: Welcome To Derry Episode 2 Is Releasing Friday, October 31, On HBO Max
HBO’s It prequel show was originally slated to release new episodes weekly, but the release schedule has already changed. It: Welcome to Derry episode 2 will now release a few days early: Friday, October 31st, on HBO Max. The reason for Welcome to Derry episode 2’s early release is Halloween, giving HBO Max subscribers an extra treat as part of their spooky holiday celebration.
It: Welcome to Derry episode 2, “The Thing in the Dark,” will officially become available on HBO Max at 3:00 am ET/12:00 am PT on Halloween. The episode will follow the shocking massacre that transpired in the movie theater at the end of Welcome to Derry episode 1. While it could be some wild hallucination, the premiere episode seemingly suggested that Teddy, Phil, and Susie were killed by the mutant demon baby.
When It: Welcome To Derry Episode 2 Releases On HBO
Despite the change to the prequel’s streaming release schedule, the show will stick to the normal release plan for HBO. Those planning to watch the TV broadcast will find It: Welcome to Derry episode 2 in its regular time slot, airing Sunday, November 2nd at 9:00 pm ET/PT. According to HBO, the rest of It: Welcome to Derry season 1 will stick with its planned linear release on Sundays for HBO and HBO Max.
It: Welcome To Derry Season 1’s Full Release Schedule
It: Welcome to Derry‘s creators have a multi-season plan, with the intention of going further back in time in each installment to fully dive into Pennywise’s origins. Until the future of the prequel show is confirmed by HBO, the focus will remain on the debut season. Thankfully, fans of the franchise have the opportunity to enjoy It: Welcome to Derry until mid-December.
|
It: Welcome to Derry Episode |
HBO Max Release (9pm ET/6pm ET) |
HBO Release (9pm ET/6pm PT) |
|---|---|---|
|
Episode 1, “The Pilot” |
Sunday, October 26 |
Sunday, October 26 |
|
Episode 2, “The Thing in the Dark” |
Friday, October 31 (special 3am ET/12am PT release) |
Sunday, November 2 |
|
Episode 3, “Now You See It” |
Sunday, November 9 |
Sunday, November 9 |
|
Episode 4 |
Sunday, November 16 |
Sunday, November 16 |
|
Episode 5 |
Sunday, November 23 |
Sunday, November 23 |
|
Episode 6 |
Sunday, November 30 |
Sunday, November 30 |
|
Episode 7 |
Sunday, December 7 |
Sunday, December 7 |
|
Episode 8 (Season Finale) |
Sunday, December 14 |
Sunday, December 14 |
It’s also important to note that daylight saving time ends for most of the US on November 2. The time change is something to keep in mind for anyone planning to watch It: Welcome to Derry episode 2 during its traditional Sunday night broadcast on HBO.
- Release Date
-
October 26, 2025
- Network
-
HBO
- Directors
-
Andy Muschietti
