Pennywise returns this Sunday as IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 3, titled “Now You See It,” premieres on November 9, 2025, at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max. After the Halloween-timed Episode 2 dropped early on October 31, the Stephen King prequel series returns to its regular Sunday night schedule for the remaining six episodes.
The second episode delivered a grisly cliffhanger where the military dug up an old 1930s-era car filled with skeletons, setting up new mysteries that Episode 3 promises to explore deeper as Derry’s dark secrets continue to unfold.
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IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 3 Quick Guide
| Episode Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Episode Title | Now You See It |
| Release Date | Sunday, November 9, 2025 |
| Air Time | 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT |
| Network | HBO |
| Streaming | HBO Max (same day) |
| Season Length | 8 episodes |
| Season Finale | December 14, 2025 |
Where to Watch Episode 3
Episode 3 will air on HBO at 9 PM ET before releasing on HBO Max the same night. Viewers in the UK can stream it live on Sky Max and NowTV, with a repeat showing at 9 PM on Monday, November 10. An HBO Max subscription is required for streaming access, with no free options currently available.
If you’re a Stephen King fan looking for more supernatural content, check out our list of 15 shows like Stranger Things that perfectly blend horror with compelling storytelling.
What Happened in Episode 2?
In Episode 2, supernatural horror and social tensions escalated against the backdrop of Derry in 1962. Following the horrific theater massacre, police pressure mounted on Hank Grogan, making his daughter Ronnie the focal point of fear and prejudice.
Lilly Bainbridge grappled with guilt and trauma after her father’s death in a pickle-factory accident, experiencing increasingly vivid and gruesome visions in supermarket aisles. Meanwhile, Major Leroy Hanlon and his wife Charlotte encountered racism and hatred as they settled into the town, while the military investigation uncovered something dark lying beneath Derry’s surface.
Episode 3 Preview: Terror Intensifies
Episode 3 marks a crucial mid-season installment that raises the stakes and begins answering key questions about the origins of the terror haunting Derry. The title “Now You See It” suggests that Pennywise’s manipulations will become more visible and terrifying for Derry’s residents.
Episode 3 will most likely explore how the fear in Derry spreads like a curse, with the military subplot involving Major Leroy Hanlon taking center stage. The mysterious car filled with 1930s-era skeletons will likely connect to the show’s planned multi-season timeline that explores different eras of Pennywise’s reign of terror.
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Meet the 1960s Derry Cast
Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, and audiences will actually be seeing Bob Gray on screens this time around. The ensemble cast bringing 1960s Derry to life includes:
- Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon (resilient wife and mother)
- Jovan Adepo as Major Leroy Hanlon (army officer entangled in darkness)
- James Remar as General Shaw (seeking secret weapons amid Cold War tensions)
- Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann (base employee with psychic abilities from The Shining)
- Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan (theater owner)
- Amanda Christine as Ronnie Grogan (Hank’s daughter)
- Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge
- Matilda Lawler as Marge (Lilly’s friend)
The Shining Connection
For fans of Stephen King’s other works, director Andy Muschietti has mentioned secret nods to other stories, like The Shining. The appearance of Dick Hallorann as a character confirms this crossover, revealing how Stephen King’s universe interlocks across different stories and timelines.
This supernatural connection expands the mythology beyond just IT, suggesting that Derry’s evil may be part of a larger cosmic horror that affects other King stories.
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Complete Season 1 Schedule
The show spans eight episodes total, continuing through December 14, 2025. Here’s the complete release schedule:
- Episode 1: “The Pilot” – October 26
- Episode 2: “The Thing in the Dark” – October 31 (Halloween special)
- Episode 3: “Now You See It” – November 9
- Episode 4: TBA – November 16
- Episode 5: TBA – November 23
- Episode 6: TBA – November 30
- Episode 7: “The Great Swirling Apparatus of Our Planet’s Function” – December 7
- Episode 8: Season Finale – December 14
Multi-Season Plan Revealed
Director Andy Muschietti explained the show’s three-season plan in an interview, stating: “The second season will be in 1935. At the end of Season 1, we are hinting at the reason why we are going to tell the story in two more seasons and backwards”.
This means the series will explore different time periods when Pennywise awakens every 27 years, working backward chronologically to reveal the origins of Derry’s curse. The mysterious 1930s car discovered in Episode 2 sets up Season 2’s storyline perfectly.
Critical Acclaim
Critics describe IT: Welcome to Derry as “one of the best Stephen King adaptations.” The cast’s emotional depth elevates every scene, with outstanding performances and gory, mystery-packed horror. Unlike many horror prequels, this series builds psychological tension through character development rather than relying solely on jump scares.
Every frame floats with dread, and Episode 3 ups the scares and scales even further with scenes that will have viewers clutching their pillows.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to watch the IT movies before watching Welcome to Derry?
A: No, you don’t need to have seen the IT movies (2017 and 2019) to understand and enjoy Welcome to Derry. The series is a prequel set in the 1960s that explores the origins of Pennywise and introduces entirely new characters. While knowing the IT mythology enhances the viewing experience and helps you catch references and Easter eggs, the show is designed to stand on its own as a complete story. However, if you’ve seen the movies, you’ll appreciate the connections to the larger Stephen King universe, including references to The Shining and understanding of how Pennywise operates in 27-year cycles.
Q: When will Welcome to Derry Season 2 be released and what will it be about?
A: While HBO hasn’t officially announced a Season 2 release date yet, director Andy Muschietti has confirmed plans for three seasons total. Season 2 will jump backward in time to 1935, exploring an earlier awakening of Pennywise. The mysterious 1930s-era car filled with skeletons discovered in Episode 2 sets up this storyline. The show plans to tell its story backward chronologically, with each season exploring a different time period of Derry’s curse. Based on typical HBO production schedules and assuming the show gets renewed after Season 1 concludes in December 2025, Season 2 would likely premiere in late 2026 or 2027.
