It: Welcome to Derry Season 2 Set in 1935 Depression Era
HBO's horror series creator reveals upcoming season will jump back to the Great Depression, bringing back familiar faces in their younger years alongside the infamous Bradley Gang Massacre storyline.
The first season of It: Welcome to Derry may have wrapped up, but showrunner Andy Muschietti has already mapped out plans for three full seasons of the HBO horror series. Though network executives haven't officially greenlit the second installment yet, Muschietti dropped some exciting hints about what fans can expect from the next chapter.
Depression-Era Derry Takes Center Stage
Speaking with Variety, Muschietti revealed key details about the upcoming storyline. "We can only say the stuff that's already known, like it's in 1935, 27 years before season 1 and it involves the massacre of the Bradley Gang from the books," he explained. "It takes place during the Depression in Derry, and there are some new characters and some characters from this season as well, but younger versions of them."
The Bradley Gang Massacre represents one of Stephen King's most violent episodes from his original novel. This brutal shootout engulfs the entire town in bloodshed and chaos. Sharp-eyed viewers caught a glimpse of this historical event in the first season when investigators discovered an old vehicle containing victims from the massacre. Muschietti's film adaptations also referenced this tragedy through a massive mural that appears behind the Losers' Club while they tend to Ben Hanscom's wounds.
Familiar Faces Return in New Forms
Perhaps the most intriguing revelation involves the return of established characters in their younger incarnations. Rose, the knowledgeable expert on Pennywise the Dancing Clown and the malevolent entity known as IT, seems like a prime candidate for this treatment. Additionally, viewers might encounter the parents of various Losers' Club members during their youth, particularly given the recent discovery that Marge will eventually become Margaret Tozier, Richie Tozier's mother.
The creative team remains tight-lipped about exactly which characters will make appearances, leaving plenty of room for speculation among devoted fans of the franchise.
Looking Ahead to Season Three
While the third season also lacks official confirmation, Muschietti has outlined its basic framework. This installment will transport viewers even further back in time to 1908, maintaining the 27-year gap pattern established between seasons. The focus will shift to the catastrophic Kitchener Ironworks explosion, a devastating industrial accident that occurred during an Easter egg hunt and claimed 102 lives, including 88 children.
This tragic event also received attention in the debut season when Dick Hallorann witnessed the ghostly image of a headless child during the deadly Black Spot fire sequence. The creators have expressed their desire to move forward with production as quickly as possible, though no official release timeline has been announced.