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IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 premiered on HBO Max on October 26, 2025. The horror series is a prequel to the popular films from the IT franchise, bringing a twisted and dark tale to the audience.
Created by Jason Fuchs, Andy Muschietti, and Barbara Muschietti, the series dives deep into the backstory of Pennywise. It also follows the story of how things turned dark in the town of Derry, Maine.
While the eerie plot and unique characters capture the audience's attention, the series also takes the viewers back to the 1960s through its realistic locations and sets. IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 was mainly filmed in several locations in Ontario, Canada.
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Exploring the filming locations of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1
Set in 1962, a striking element of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 is the special backdrop that helps the viewers travel back in time. From the residential lanes to public places, the filming locations of the series bring an authentic touch to the story set in the town of Derry, Maine.
The series was primarily filmed in various locations throughout Ontario, Canada. Places like Port Hope, Hamilton, the Greater Toronto Area, and more were turned into Derry for IT: Welcome to Derry season 1. Here's all you need to know about the filming locations of the series.
1) Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, became a prominent filming location for the crew of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1. The team utilised several areas of the region and added elements that matched the 1960s era. Walton Street and Queen Street served as a backdrop for several key moments featured in the series.
Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Port Hope is a significant municipality with landscapes and culture. Attractions such as the Capitol Theater, Ganaraska Forest, Dorothy's House Museum, St. Mark's Anglican Church, and more stand out as special spots in the region. Popular films and series, such as Schitt's Creek, Orphan, IT, and others, have also been filmed in Port Hope.
2) Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario, became the backdrop of one of the prominent locations shown in the latest series, IT: Welcome to Derry season 1. Scenes set in the show's Derry High School were filmed in Hamilton's Delta Secondary School.
From classroom scenes to various exterior shots, the school plays a significant role in the characters' journeys, as depicted in the latest HBO Max series. The school is located at 1284 Main Street East. The Westdale Theater is also spotted in the theater sequence of the series.
The port city of Hamilton is renowned for its natural beauty, rich culture, and historical significance. It is also known as 'City of Waterfalls', owing to the city having more than 100 waterfalls in the area. From culinary experiences to attractions like the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Dundurn Castle, and the Freelton Antique Mall, among others, the city of Hamilton has a lot to offer.
Films and series like The Shape of Water, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, Hulk, and more have been filmed in Hamilton.
3) Greater Toronto Area, Ontario
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was one of the main filming locations of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1. The area is prominently shown as the town of Derry in multiple scenes across the series.
From residential areas to the film studios present in the region, the crew behind the show used different locations within GTA for filming interior and exterior scenes. Cities from GTA, like Brampton, Pickering, North York, and areas like Uxbridge and Etobicoke, were also featured in several scenes of the show.
GTA refers to a larger area, inclusive of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York, and Peel. It is the largest urban centre in Canada. GTA's urban landscapes and attractions like the Royal Ontario Museum, Muddy York Brewing, Art Gallery of Ontario, and more, make it stand apart from other regions of the country.
Popular projects such as Suits, The Handmaid's Tale, The Umbrella Academy, and others were filmed in this region.
Other filming locations
The team behind IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 went beyond the above-mentioned locations to bring more iconic backdrops for different scenes.
Some of these include cities such as Guelph, Niagara Falls, and municipalities like Brant, Quinte West, and Pontypool village, as well as the town of Lincoln, among others. The Canadian Forces Base Borden was featured in the series to show scenes from the Derry Air Force Base.
About IT: Welcome to Derry season 1
IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 is based on Stephen King's literary works, bringing a mix of horror and mystery to viewers through its story. The town of Derry hides deep secrets that begin wreaking havoc on the residents. The show brings together a group of children and several other characters to face the evil forces, promising to further showcase Pennywise's origin story.
The official logline of the series reads as follows:
"Set in the world of Stephen King’s “IT” universe, IT: WELCOME TO DERRY is based on King’s “IT” novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films “IT” and “IT Chapter Two.”"
The series comprises a total of eight episodes, with two of them currently available on HBO Max. Viewers can expect more episodes to drop soon in the coming weeks.
Watch IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 on HBO Max.
