{
  "id": 17479210,
  "title": "It: Welcome To Derry dropped a surprise episode on HBO Max for Halloween",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/it-welcome-to-derry-dropped-a-surprise-episode-on-hbo-max-for",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-31T13:20:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/stoyr-of-derry-surprise-episode-it-welcome-to-derry-hbo-max"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Halloween, HBO Max surprised viewers with a new episode of It: Welcome To Derry, released in observance of the holiday and to generate excitement about the upcoming season. Titled \"A Story Of Derry,\" the thirty-minute episode takes place centuries prior to the events of the first season, directed by Tazbah Chavez and written by Cherie Dimaline and Jasmyne Flournoy. The story follows three indigenous young people who venture into the Western Wood, the forest outside of Derry where the monstrous Pennywise crash-landed from space in the distant past, and encounter a terrifying ancient spirit. The episode is set to be the first of a new season developed by Kane, who previously produced Crystal Lake for Peacock.",
  "summary": "HBO Max is giving users a treat this Halloween: \"A Story Of Derry,\" a surprise episode set before the events of It: Welcome To Derry .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "TheWrap",
        "title": "‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Drops Surprise Episode on HBO Max",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/it-welcome-to-derry-drops-surprise-episode-on-hbo-max",
        "published": "2026-10-31T07:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "TVLine",
        "title": "HBO Max Drops Surprise IT: Welcome To Derry Episode For Halloween",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/hbo-max-drops-surprise-it-welcome-to-derry-episode-for-halloween",
        "published": "2026-10-31T13:40:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Surprise Halloween Episode Drops on HBO Max",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/it-welcome-to-derry-surprise-halloween-episode-drops-on-hbo-max",
        "published": "2026-10-31T16:50:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Surprise Halloween Episode Now Streaming On HBO Max",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/it-welcome-to-derry-surprise-halloween-episode-now-streaming-on-hbo",
        "published": "2026-10-31T18:18:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}