It: Welcome to Derry is indeed returning for a second season. If you’re thinking we already knew that, we pretty much didâco-creators Andy and Barbara Muschietti have been talking about the show’s next chapter since the first one ended. But HBO held off on making the official announcement until today.

The theme of “no surprises here” continues with confirmation of the logline, which is in keeping with the much-discussed plan to rewind history and explore an earlier Pennywise visit to Maine’s most dread-filled small town: “Season two takes place in 1935 during the Great Depression and centers on the bloody massacre of the Bradley Gang, a group of bank robbers who stop in Derry to buy ammo and end up facing unimaginable horror.”

The Bradley Gang is referenced in season one; fans will recall they pop up in the opening credits, and a vintage car tied to their crimes is unearthed thanks to Dick Hallorann’s psychic detective work. But setting the show nearly three decades before the first season’s 1962 events truly makes Welcome to Derry an anthology series.

The renewal news press release didn’t include any casting details, but you have to assume Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd will be back as Pennywiseâyou really can’t do the show without himâand that we’ll probably meet some younger versions of characters we met in season one. Aside from that, there will likely be a bunch of new faces to get to know as they learn the true meaning of clown-propelled fear.

Surely we’ll be learning more soon, though what we’d really like to know is when season two might be hitting HBO. Considering showrunner Brad Caleb Kane is currently tied up with another horror prequel in Peacock’s Friday the 13th series Crystal Lake, we’re guessing the sewers will be clear of clowns for at least another year or so.

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