HBO has jump-scared subscribers with a surprise episode of It: Welcome to Derry to help celebrate Halloween.
Log in to HBO Max now, and you’ll see a one-off story in Pennywise’s playground that no one saw coming headlining the streamer’s new arrivals. Titled “A Story of Derry,” the episode is only 30 minutes long and takes place hundreds of years before the events of Season 1, meaning you won’t have to ditch any trick-or-treating or party prep to get the full picture.
You can read an official description for It: Welcome to Derry’s A Story of Derry episode here: “Hundreds of years before Pennywise, three youngsters venture into the Western Wood…where they encounter a terrifying ancient spirit.”
IT’s a surprise Halloween treat.
Catch this never-before-seen special exploring the origins of IT in Derry. #AStoryOfDerry is streaming now on HBO Max. 🎈 https://t.co/NH3NcMLt8n
— HBO Max (@hbomax) October 31, 2026
It’s the kind of shadow-drop Stranger Things fans can only dream of. Despite coming in at about half the length of Welcome to Derry’s usual hour-long runtime, It fans will no doubt be happy to see any new content, considering there was no prior announcement that anything was in the works. After all, Season 1 came out just one year ago, and although Season 2 is greenlit, we probably won’t get to see it until late 2027 at the earliest.
Still, that didn’t stop hardcore Stephen King fans from speculating that a surprise episode was slated to drop sometime around Halloween. In the weeks leading up to today’s maybe not-so-unexpected announcement, there were some rumors that HBO had secretly shot a bonus episode.
After Stranger Things left thousands of fans in the dark when their surprise finale episode theories didn’t pan out, most Welcome to Derry watchers justifiably thought the rumors were nonsense. You can even see that hesitation in some of their comments.
“Completely fake,” one fan said earlier this month.
“I’d be impressed they could keep a whole production with cast and crew under wraps in this day and age so doubting this but would be impressed to learn otherwise,” another added.
Well, anyway, A Story of Derry was directed by Reservation Dogs and The Paper alum Tazbah Chavez. It was written by Welcome to Derry producer Cherie Dimaline and the show’s writer and editor, Jasmyne Flournoy.
The episode serves as an early, early look at its world, which is something the minds behind the show have teased they’ve wanted to do for years. Season 1 was set before the events of Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise-led movies, with a story that took place during the Cold War, and Season 2 is expected to follow events from 1935, with the planned third season previously said to be set in 1908.
A Story of Derry turns back the clock earlier than anyone may have anticipated, and that only helps its surprise drop’s shock factor. This is unlike anything It fans expected to see on Halloween today, but it’ll almost certainly carve out some time in everyone’s nights now. Meanwhile, the episode opens up with a bit more text about its premise. You can read it below:
“Generations ago, when the Kollu first preyed on our people, we left warnings for those who would come after. But we hid the truth inside a gentler tale, one our children could carry. This is the story we do not teach. This is the part we left out.”
IGN gave It: Welcome to Derry Season 1’s premiere an 8/10 and its finale a 7/10. While we wait to see how A Story of Derry fits into King’s big picture, you can read about how Season 1 connects to the author’s multiverse here.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
