Imagine stepping into the eerie, fog-shrouded streets of Derry, Maine, where a sinister clown named Pennywise lurks in the sewers, ready to unleash nightmares on unsuspecting residents—but here's the twist: is this chilling town even a real place? That's the core mystery pulling viewers into HBO's latest supernatural horror series, IT: Welcome to Derry, and it's exactly what makes you want to dive deeper into its shadowy origins. But this is the part most people miss: while the story unfolds in a seemingly authentic Maine setting, the filming locations are a world away, sparking debates about authenticity and creativity in storytelling.
The series, starring Bill Skarsgård as the terrifying clown Pennywise, acts as a prequel to the blockbuster 2017 film It and draws directly from Stephen King's iconic 1986 novel of the same name. Set against the backdrop of 1962, it follows a young married couple, Major Leroy Hanlon (played by Jovan Adepo) and his wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige), who relocate to Derry with their son, Will (Blake Cameron James), when Leroy receives a military assignment with the US Army. Their arrival coincides with the baffling vanishing of a local boy, Matty Clements (Miles Ekhardt), which may signal the return of Pennywise from his long slumber.
As the Hanlons navigate the oddities and hardships of their new home, a group of local children—Teddy (Mikkal Karim Fidler), Phil (Jack Molloy Legault), Lilly (Clara Stack), Ronnie (Amanda Christine), and Susie (Matilda Legault)—embark on a desperate search for Matty, convinced he's still alive and calling out for rescue. Meanwhile, Pennywise emerges once more, sowing seeds of fear, division, and mayhem throughout Derry, creating a web of suspense that keeps everyone on edge.
With only a handful of episodes released so far, much of the plot remains shrouded in mystery, promising a mix of gripping narratives, gruesome scenes, and heart-pounding scares courtesy of Pennywise. Yet, amid the unknowns, one thing is crystal clear: the production team behind IT: Welcome to Derry has crafted this tale using real-world locations that bring the fictional town to life. But here's where it gets controversial—does filming outside the book's American roots diminish the story's power, or does it allow for fresh, innovative takes on King's vision? It's a topic that's divided fans, with some arguing it stays true to the source while others wonder if it feels less 'authentic.'
So, where exactly did the cameras roll for IT: Welcome to Derry? Although the story is rooted in Derry, Maine—a town entirely conjured by Stephen King, inspired by his childhood home of Bangor, Maine—the series was shot far from New England, or even the United States. Instead, the production ventured across the border to Canada, primarily in the province of Ontario, to capture the essence of this imagined horror hotspot. Principal photography kicked off in May 2023 across spots like Toronto, Port Hope, and Hamilton.
Building on the success of the 2017 It film and its 2019 sequel It: Chapter Two, the show reused several locations to maintain continuity. For instance, Port Hope stood in for numerous outdoor scenes in Derry, including the bustling Walton Street, where you'll see the facades of shops, homes, and businesses. This charming Ontario town, with its historic architecture, provides a perfect backdrop that echoes the mid-20th-century feel of King's Derry, helping newcomers to the series visualize the eerie small-town vibe without needing prior knowledge of the books or movies.
In Hamilton, Ontario, an abandoned school became the set for Derry High. Delta Secondary School, which closed its doors permanently in 2019 after decades of operation since 1925, was repurposed to represent a school from any era in the last century. For beginners exploring King's universe, this choice highlights how filmmakers adapt real, historic buildings to fit period settings, making the horror feel tangible and immersive. Interestingly, this same location also doubled as a filming spot for Netflix's Fear Street: Prom Queen, set in 1988, showing how versatile these sites can be for different stories.
Another key site was Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario, which doubled as the Derry Air Forces Base—the new workplace for Major Hanlon. This base's military atmosphere adds a layer of realism, subtly blending the everyday with the supernatural, which might surprise viewers expecting purely fictional elements. Additional interiors and studio shots were handled in Toronto, rounding out the production.
To experience these locations firsthand and witness Derry's dark magic unfold, catch IT: Welcome to Derry as new episodes air weekly on Sundays at 9 pm ET, exclusively on HBO Max, through December 14. It's a chance to see how creative location choices elevate the terror.
Now, here's a thought-provoking question for you: In an era of global filmmaking, does shooting a story inspired by American lore in Canada change how we perceive its 'Maine' roots, or is it just smart adaptation? Do you side with the purists who prefer everything American-made, or do you embrace the international flair? Share your opinions in the comments below—let's hear if you agree, disagree, or have a wild counterpoint of your own!
