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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 catch the attention of the audience, 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. Exploring the filming locations of IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 A still from the trailer (Image via YouTube/@hbomax)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 mainly filmed in different locations in 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, OntarioPort Hope in 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 became a backdrop for several moments shown in the series. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario, Port Hope is a significant municipality with scenic landscapes and culture. Attractions like the Capitol Theater, Ganaraska Forest, Dorothy's House Museum, St. Mark's Anglican Church, and more stand as special spots in the region. Popular films and series like Schitt's Creek, Orphan, IT, and more have been filmed in Port Hope, too. 2) Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, 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 other exterior shots, the school became a significant part of the characters' journeys shown 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 popular for its natural beauty, culture, and historical elements. 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, Freelton Antique Mall, and more, there is a lot that the city of Hamilton houses. 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, OntarioThe 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 like Suits, The Handmaid's Tale, The Umbrella Academy, and more 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 like Guelph, Niagara Falls, municipalities of Brant, Quinte West, Pontypool village, the town of Lincoln, and more. 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 1Official poster of the series (Image via Instagram/@hbomax)IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 is based on Stephen King's literary works, bringing a mix of horror and mystery to the viewers through its story. The town of Derry hides deep secrets that begin wreaking havoc on the residents. The show brings a group of children and several other characters to face the evil forces, promising to showcase Pennywise's origin story further. 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 has a total of eight episodes, with two of them released on HBO Max so far. Viewers can expect more episodes to drop soon in the coming weeks. Watch IT: Welcome to Derry season 1 on HBO Max.
