‘It’ Returns to Maine: 50 Behind-the-Scenes Set Photos of the Prequel Series ‘Welcome to Derry’

The terrifying 2017 Stephen King film "It" and its 2019 sequel "It: Chapter Two" scored big critically and at the box office.

According to Box Office Mojo, the first movie made over $700 million worldwide and the second made over $470 million worldwide. Talk about a cash clown, right?

So it's no surprise we aren't done with the world of "It." If you haven't heard, Max is bringing a prequel series to your TVs in 2025, and that means the return of Derry, Maine.

In December 2023, Max revealed a first-look trailer of a bunch of its upcoming shows, including a few brief moments of "Welcome to Derry."

At about 1:35 in the trailer, a few clips show the series, including a shot of the infamous red balloon.

While there's not a ton of information out there about the plot of the show as of April 2024, according to Collider, it seems the show will take place in the 1960s and further explore the origins of Pennywise the Clown.

Thanks to some unofficial behind-the-scenes set photos shared by the Facebook page October’s Apothecary, you can get a better glimpse into the setting of the show and the world of Derry, Maine.

Not surprisingly, based on these photos and the Facebook post's description, the show isn't being filmed in Maine but rather Ontario, Canada. Collider also notes Toronto as another filming location.

Some of the photos include a great shot of a Welcome to Derry town sign with the added note that it's the birthplace of Paul Bunyan, as well as parts of the town that are clearly set in the 1960s based on the cars, appliances and even a telephone booth.

There are also some pictures of a carnival, so you can bet Pennywise is hanging around there.

Take a look:

According to a press release from Warner Bros, Stephen King shared his enthusiasm for the project that expands upon the recent "It" movies:

"I’m excited that the story of Derry, Maine’s most haunted city, is continuing, and I’m glad Andy Muschietti [who directed "It" and "It: Chapter Two"] is going to be overseeing the frightening festivities, along with a brain trust including his talented sister, Barbara. Red balloons all around!"

Interestingly, it seems that actor Bill Skarsgard, who played Pennywise in both of the "It" movies, is not returning for the show. (Or maybe it will be a surprise if he is?)

In a March 2023 interview with Jake's Takes, Skarsgard said he wasn't involved with the "Derry" project but offered advice to whoever might take up the Pennywise mantle: "Do it your own. Make it your own. Have fun with it. What I found pleasurable about that character is how abstract he was."

Guess we will have to see how it all shakes out when the series premieres sometime in 2025.

Are you looking forward to more "It" with a TV show? Do you have a favorite Stephen King movie?