Andy and Barbara Muschietti know a thing or two about fear.
After terrifying audiences worldwide with their adaptations of “IT” and “IT: Chapter 2,” the sibling duo are returning to the world of Stephen King, this time to explore the dark events in Derry 27 years before the first story unfolded.
Their new HBO series, premiering on October 26, “IT: Welcome to Derry,” expands on King’s chilling mythology, diving into the origins of Pennywise and the cursed town that shaped generations of horror fans.
Set in 1962, the series follows Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), a Korean War veteran stationed in Derry, and a group of children as they become entangled in the town’s sinister events and try to piece together the mystery behind a series of disappearances. Of course, Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise, the iconic (but horrifying) evil clown.
But as the Muschiettis tell it, “Welcome to Derry” isn’t just about scares but about humanity, memory, and what lies beneath the surface of small-town America.
I sat down with them to talk about bringing King’s universe back to life in the prequel series, crafting horror that’s as emotional as it is terrifying, and why shock value alone “has no weight.”
‘Even with your jaw on the floor, it has to serve the story’
During the interview, I asked Andy (director) and Barbara Muschietti (producer) about the show’s most intense and gory moments — including scenes that blend gore and body horror — and how they ensured these shocking visuals served the story and its characters rather than relying on pure shock value.
Andy said, “Well, it’s all inspired by the book. I read it when I was very young, and it was incredibly influential in the way I understand stories and how to tell them. Stephen King is so good at that — he really cares about his characters. It’s never just about the horror; it’s mainly about human journeys. That approach, whether consciously or not, carries through into the movies and now into the show.
Of course, I love graphic horror and shock value, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have well-developed characters and an emotional connection with the audience. That’s what it’s all about.”
Barbara added, “And it has to serve a purpose. Shock value on its own has no weight; it doesn’t last. It can actually pull the audience out of the story. Even with those jaw-on-the-floor moments, you need to give them a sense of transcendence that keeps the audience invested and allows them to experience more scares.
To do that, you have to layer the story with other emotional elements — whether it’s drama, comedy, or anything else that reflects the human experience. Shock value on its own just doesn’t work, at least not in our book.”
Hearing them talk about it that way really put the show into perspective for me. “IT: Welcome to Derry” isn’t just about recreating the fear that made King’s story iconic but about grounding that fear in something deeply human. As a huge fan of the book, I’ve always felt that its real terror came from the people and it’s clear the Muschiettis understand that.
Not to mention that King himself has already praised the series, calling the first episode “amazing” and “terrifying.” Knowing that the master of horror himself approves only makes the anticipation for “IT: Welcome to Derry” even stronger.
“IT: Welcome to Derry” premieres with two episodes on Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max.
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