Stephen King (Carrie, ‘Salem’s Lot) is widely known as a master of horror. It appears that mastery of horror runs in the family, because the Radio Times has announced that King’s own grandson will be joining the crew of It: Welcome to Derry season two as a writer.
Yes, King’s grandson Ethan is joining the writing team for season two of the series, which is based on King’s 1968 horror novel It. “King’s grandson Ethan is writing for season 2,” showrunner Brad Caleb Kane said. “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.”
Season two of It: Welcome to Derry will take place 27 years before the events of season one in 1935. It will be a horror take on the mobster genre, with a group of criminals known as the Bradley Gang moving into Derry, to the consternation (and violent anger) of the citizens of Derry.
It: Welcome to Derry is based on the novel It’s interludes, which tell the story of It, including Its adoption of the Pennywise the Dancing Clown persona and Its history with the town. The novel has been adapted into a miniseries in the ’90s, a movie franchise in the 2010s, and now It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel show that has aired since 2025.
Season one of the series took audiences back in time to 1962, a time of great racial prejudice and growing Cold War tensions. The military gained a vested interest in Pennywise, and sought to control it for use in fighting communists. As a group of children became increasingly aware of Its’ presence, they sought to defeat the evil that was poisoning their town. They were ultimately successful in keeping It caged and confined to Derry, but it was eventually revealed that It doesn’t have a linear sense of time, meaning the series functions as both a prequel and a sequel.