It: Welcome to Derry Drops Surprise Halloween Episode

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Meanwhile, the episode opens up with a bit more text about its premise: "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."