‘Welcome to Derry‘ Team reveals Backwards storytelling Approach Rooted in Stephen King‘s Narrative Style
LOS ANGELES – The creative team behind HBO’s Welcome to Derry deliberately chose to tell the story of Derry, Maine, in reverse chronological order – beginning in 1962 and moving towards 1908 - a decision stemming from the fragmented and enigmatic nature of Stephen King’s source material, It. Directors Barbara and Andy Muschietti revealed the unconventional narrative structure was pitched to king himself, who instantly endorsed the idea.
The series, a prequel to the It films, aims to delve deeper into the history of the town and the origins of pennywise the Dancing Clown. According to the Muschiettis, It is “all very fragmented and partially told,” prompting them to explore a backwards timeline to unravel the mysteries at the heart of King’s sprawling novel. They intentionally withheld the specific reasoning behind the backwards approach from King initially, but he readily agreed to the concept, demonstrating trust in their vision.
“We told him that we had this strange desire to tell the story backwards. So we would go from 1962, being the first season, to 1935, and then to 1908,” Barbara Muschietti explained. Andy Muschietti added, “There’s a very specific reason why we’re telling the story backwards. I can’t tell you yet, but there’s a reason why we’re going backwards.”
The choice reflects a desire to move beyond simply presenting pennywise as a monster and instead explore the deeper, more complex history of derry itself. While a second season has not yet been confirmed, the potential exists to explore further into Derry’s past, offering fans a more comprehensive understanding of the evil that plagues the town.
