Stephen King fans have spent the past seven weeks engrossed in the debut season of HBO and HBO Max hit IT: Welcome to Derry. The first two letters of that title certainly give away what the show is about - at least to horror fans - but in case they don't, it's a prequel series to the legendary story of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. And, well, as you might know, dancing isn't all that he does.
Bill Skarsgård reprised his role from record-breaking 2017 film IT and its 2018 sequel IT: Chapter Two, bringing the movie villain to the small screen. To say that it has lived up to expectations would probably be an understatement, as the prequel has dominated much of the TV conversation over the past few weeks - which is pretty impressive considering that it had to contend with the debut of Stranger Things season 5 volume 1! - going viral for some of its gruesome scenes.
But with the show reaching the conclusion of its first season, we have to ask the question: Will there be another? The answer is, well, complicated.
There is a plan for two more seasons of IT: Welcome to Derry (but HBO hasn't renewed it yet)
If you're wondering whether there are more seasons of IT: Welcome to Derry planned, you will be happy to know that Andy and Barbara Muschietti do indeed have hopes for more seasons of the HBO and HBO Max series, with a three-season plan in place. The only caveat is that HBO has yet to renew it for another season.
There is some good news, though. These decisions are usually made based on the success of each show's performance and IT performed very well. In fact, the series has been a huge hit for HBO and HBO Max, with The Wrap reporting that the premiere episode drew 5.7 million viewers across both platforms in its first three days of release - making it the third-biggest launch of the HBO Max streaming service's lifespan, coming in just after The Last of Us and House of the Dragon. Viewers have reportedly increased throughout the run, too, with the seventh installment receiving 5.8 million viewers.
Needless to say that those are very promising signs that HBO has plans for more in store for the show. But we obviously shouldn't get too excited until a renewal is officially announced. We are living in an era of surprising cancellations after all, and there is a lot of pressure on these cinematic offshoot TV shows to succeed. From the looks of things, the IT prequel has succeeded in doing that, so there is a pretty good chance that we could see a second - and perhaps third - season.
As for what a potential IT: Welcome to Derry season 2 could look like, well the Muschiettis have plans for that. Speaking to Variety, Andy revealed that:
"Our big story arc involves three seasons, mainly based on the three critical cycles of Pennywise, which are 1962, 1935 and 1908."
It sounds like the show could be going down the Fear Street route of setting each installment further in the past, which would make a potential second season take place in 1935. That would technically make a prequel to the first season (a prequel of a prequel!), while the third season would presumably be a prequel to it.
Of course, taking the show further into the past could present an issue down the line as it would likely mean a bigger budget would be required to bring the 1930s feel to life. They undoubtedly pulled it off with the '60s setting in season 1, but future seasons needing new sets, costumes, and vehicles to accurately capture its time period would be like starting all over again for everyone involved.
Now, the show has proven itself a hit, and it will likely have built up a long-term, larger, fanbase by the time that any potential second season came around, so it's more than worthy of whatever budget it wants. Here's hoping that HBO does the right thing and greenlights that renewal.
Taking all of that into account, we would say that there is a pretty strong chance that IT: Welcome to Derry season 2 could happen. The show has been a roaring success for both its linear cable channel and its worldwide streamer, building upon viewership as it went on. It also built upon the legendary IT lore, adding backstory to a classic story and showing us that there is so much more to this rich tale than the story that has already been told multiple times already. That, the positive reviews, and the strong performance all indicate - and highlight - that it would be a mistake not to bring it back for another season.