HBO Max is slowly turning into the home for projects directly connected to the cinematic side of WarnerMedia. The streaming service hosts multiple feature films set in the DCEU and even two shows directly set in the world of Matt Reeves‘ “The Batman.” Now, HBO Max is setting its sights on a recent billion-dollar horror film property.
The Ankler first reported that a prequel series, “Welcome To Derry,” is in development stages at HBO Max and is based on the classic Stephen King horror novel “IT.”
“IT” focused on an interdimensional entity that takes the form of Pennywise The Dancing Clown and feeds on the children of Derry. A group of kids fight back and return to the sleepy town as adults when Pennywise starts killing children again. The property was previously given a two-part feature film reboot helmed by Andy Muschietti (“The Flash“) after the 1990s television miniseries that originally starred Tim Curry as Pennywise.
Variety adds Muschietti is producing and is said to be working with his sister Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs to develop the story, with Fuchs penning the script. “Welcome To Derry” takes place in the 1960s and will also include the origin of Pennywise. It’s unclear whether Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård will return to the beloved horror role.
The project is at Warner Bros. Television and a writers’ room is being assembled.
Scott Wampler of Birth.Movies.Death also chimed in on Twitter (See below) and suggests this “prequel series” could be the same project as a King anthology series that is also in the works, although this has not confirmed.
“Because I am feeling saucy I will add the following to that whole ‘IT Prequel Series’ thing: I know of a certain production co that has an unannounced King anthology series in the works at HBO and after doing a wee bit of digging it is possible that these 2 projects are the same,” Wampler said on Twitter on Tuesday.
This isn’t the only nifty-sounding King project in the works as J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot had been developing “The Overlook,” a show set in “The Shining” universe and expected to explore the hotel that has been the location of multiple brutal murders.