Horror royalty just got a new heir apparent. IT: Welcome to Derry, the HBO prequel that has been terrifying audiences with its fresh take on Pennywise, is adding a very special name to its Season 2 writers' room: Ethan King, grandson of the legendary Stephen King himself.
The news, first reported by Radio Times, confirms that Ethan will be penning episodes for the show's sophomore run. Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane couldn't hide his enthusiasm, telling the outlet, "He's brilliant and really smart. He's a chip off the old block. You can see why the Kings are how they are. It's definitely passed down genetically through generations."
This meta addition comes as Welcome to Derry continues to solidify its place as one of the decade's standout horror series. The first season, which premiered to 5.7 million cross-platform viewers within three days and peaked at 6.5 million for its finale, has been a critical darling, earning praise for its atmospheric dread and faithful expansion of King's universe.
While fans were disappointed to learn that Season 2 won't arrive until 2027, the promise of a new perspective from the King family is generating fresh buzz. The upcoming season will shift the timeline to 1930s Derry, a Depression-era setting that co-creator Andy Muschietti says will bring a distinct tone. "There's a lot of that depression-era hustling in the air in our characters," he previously explained. "Everybody's trying to get by and survive the circumstances. They are gonna do crazy things. And of course, the social, cultural, horrible things that were happening in the era, too. We're not going to skip those. [They are the] very centre and the heart of our story."
This isn't the only King family project making waves. Mike Flanagan's recent adaptation of Carrie for Prime Video has been a streaming sensation, racking up 1.2 billion minutes watched and earning rave reviews. But Welcome to Derry stands apart, with its gritty, period-specific horror that feels both classic and refreshingly new.
For those hungry for more King adaptations, there's plenty on the horizon. A Dark Tower western is hitting Paramount+ this October, and fans of the author's shorter works can check out our list of his sharpest, shortest novels for a quick scare.
As the wait for Season 2 continues, the addition of Ethan King is a tantalizing hint that the family's storytelling DNA will keep the nightmare alive. With a new era, a new voice, and the same iconic villain, Welcome to Derry is poised to deliver another chilling chapter in the saga of the town that fear built.
