Ever wondered where the spine-chilling town of Derry, home to the terrifying clown Pennywise, actually springs to life on screen? It's not the quaint Maine locale you might picture from Stephen King's chilling tales—prepare to have your mind blown as we dive into the real-world filming spots for HBO's IT: Welcome to Derry!
But here's where it gets controversial: Does swapping out the book's original American setting for Canadian backdrops change the horror's eerie authenticity? We'll explore that as we unpack everything.
The demonic clown figure, masterfully portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, is back to haunt us in this gripping HBO Original series, IT: Welcome to Derry. This show acts as a thrilling prequel to the 2017 blockbuster film adaptation and builds further on the nightmarish universe that Stephen King first conjured in his 1986 novel of the same title. For beginners stepping into King's world, think of it as a tapestry of small-town secrets laced with supernatural dread—where everyday life hides unspeakable horrors.
Set against the backdrop of 1962, the narrative centers on Major Leroy (played by Jovan Adepo) and his wife Charlotte Hanlon (Taylour Paige), who relocate to Derry, Maine, alongside their young son, Will (Blake Cameron James). Leroy's military assignment with the US Army brings them there, but their arrival coincides with the baffling vanishing of local boy Matty Clements (Miles Ekhardt), an event that seems tied to the reawakening of Pennywise.
The plot thickens as the Hanlons navigate hardships in this peculiar new community, all while a group of neighborhood children—Teddy (Mikkal Karim Fidler), Phil (Jack Molloy Legault), Lilly (Clara Stack), Ronnie (Amanda Christine), and Susie (Matilda Legault)—embark on a desperate quest to locate Matty, convinced his mysterious calls for aid mean he's still out there. And lurking in the shadows, Pennywise resurfaces to unleash a new wave of fear, discord, and mayhem throughout Derry.
With just a handful of episodes released so far, much of the series remains shrouded in mystery, promising an abundance of compelling narratives, blood-curdling sequences, and heart-stopping encounters with the clown. But while the exact twists are still under wraps, one thing is crystal clear: IT: Welcome to Derry was brought to life through filming in unexpected locales. And this is the part most people miss—how these choices might subtly shift the story's vibe for eagle-eyed viewers.
So, where exactly was IT: Welcome to Derry filmed? Although the story unfolds in the fictional town of Derry, Maine—a place Stephen King invented based on his real hometown of Bangor, Maine—the production team didn't shoot a single frame in New England or even the US. Instead, they headed north to Canada, specifically across various sites in the province of Ontario. Why Canada? It's a practical choice for many Hollywood productions: favorable tax incentives, diverse landscapes that can mimic American settings, and skilled crews make it a go-to hub. For instance, this isn't the first time—Ontario has stood in for countless US towns in films and TV, allowing creators to blend familiarity with cost-efficiency.
Principal photography kicked off in May 2023 in bustling Toronto, the charming town of Port Hope, and the industrial city of Hamilton. The series cleverly recycled some filming sites from the 2017 and 2019 It movies, particularly in Port Hope, which doubles as the exterior shots of Derry's streets, businesses, and residences along Walton Street. It's a smart reuse that helps maintain visual continuity, making the fictional Maine town feel tangible and immersive.
Over in Hamilton, Ontario, Delta Secondary School underwent a transformation to represent Derry High. This historic building, standing since 1925 and closed for good in 2019, offers a timeless appeal perfect for stories spanning the 20th century. Its sturdy architecture and nostalgic vibe have made it a popular pick for period pieces—beyond IT: Welcome to Derry, it recently hosted scenes for the Netflix horror flick Fear Street: Prom Queen, set in 1988, showing how versatile these old structures can be for evoking mid-century fear.
Another pivotal spot was Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario, which stood in for the Derry Air Forces Base where Major Hanlon is stationed. Military bases like this provide authentic, secure environments for filming, complete with real equipment and layouts that enhance the realism of military-driven plots.
Additional indoor scenes and studio shoots took place in Toronto, tying everything together in a cohesive production hub.
To experience these locations firsthand and watch Derry's horrors unfold, catch IT: Welcome to Derry as new episodes air every Sunday at 9 pm ET, leading up to December 14, exclusively on HBO Max.
Now, here's a thought-provoking angle: Some fans argue that filming in Canada, rather than King's beloved Maine, strips away the novel's regional soul—does the change make the terror feel less 'real' or more universal? Others see it as irrelevant, focusing on the story's scares over geography. What do you think? Does this international twist enhance or detract from the IT legacy? Agree or disagree—drop your opinions in the comments and let's debate!
