IT: Welcome to Derry Premiere Shocks with Multiple Children's Deaths

The series "It: Welcome to Derry" boldly deviates from traditional storytelling by killing several key child characters early in its premiere episode, subverting audience expectations and demonstrating that no character is safe. The show, set in 1962 and serving as a prequel to the 2017 and 2019 "It" films, follows a group of kids investigating the disappearance of Matty Clements, only to face a brutal massacre in a movie theater orchestrated by Pennywise, including the death of Matty and several others. Creators Andy and Barbara Muschietti aimed to intensify the horror and spectacle while avoiding familiarity with previous adaptations, even risking network pushback due to the graphic violence. The episode's shocking climax features a demon baby version of Pennywise emerging from a movie screen, killing multiple children and leaving only a few survivors. This approach establishes the series as uniquely unpredictable within Stephen King adaptations, promising a darker and more intense narrative than its predecessors. The show's co-creators have embraced the violent and chaotic tone, comparing the pilot's impact to the infamous "Red Wedding" from "Game of Thrones."