HBO and Max fans of “The White Lotus” series and the “It” franchise are going to need to exercise patience. During a recent press event Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, announced delays to both shows.
The It prequel ‘Welcome to Derry,’ originally slated for Halloween 2024, is now expected to hit screens in 2025. Similarly, ‘White Lotus’ Season 3, initially planned for 2024, has been pushed back to 2025,” Bloys announced.
These delays are due to the impact of the writers’ strike and on-going actors’ strike. As expected the effects have trickled down to HBO and Max’s 2024 programming slate. “The White Lotus,” a popular anthology series created by Mike White, was gearing up for its third season when the writers’ strike caused a halt in production.
The White Lotus season 3 heads to Thailand after the first season was shot in Maui, Hawaii and season two was in Sicily, Italy. Fan favorite from season 1, Natasha Rothwell is reprising her role for the upcoming season.
“The White Lotus” has been a significant critical success, garnering 23 Emmy nominations for Season 2, including best drama series and multiple acting nods. Jennifer Coolidge secured her second consecutive nomination for her role in the show, having won the award for best supporting actress in a limited series for Season 1.
As for “Welcome to Derry,” specific plot details remain closely guarded. All we know is that the series stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Madeleine Stowe, and Stephen Rider.
Welcome to Derry, ordered to Max in February, comes from filmmaker Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuch. It is set in the world of Stephen King’s IT universe and will expand on the vision of their feature films ‘It’ and ‘It Chapter Two.'”
Production for “Welcome to Derry” began in early 2023 but was halted in July due to the actors’ strike.
Fuchs is responsible for the teleplay of the first episode, based on a story co-authored by him and the Muschiettis. Andy is set to direct multiple episodes, including the first, while Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. The Muschiettis also contribute as executive producers via their Double Dream production company, along with Shelley Meals, Roy Lee, and Dan Lin. The series is a joint production between HBO Max and Warner Bros. Television.
In addition to “Welcome to Derry,” it’s worth noting that the “It” franchise, known for its gripping narrative and spine-tingling horror, has enjoyed remarkable success. From the original two-part miniseries in 1990 to the rebooted films in 2017 and 2019, “It” has left an indelible mark on the horror genre. Now, with “Welcome to Derry” on the horizon, the franchise’s legacy is set to expand even further, promising to captivate both die-hard horror enthusiasts and fans of the “It” universe.
(originally read on Deadline)