HBO's IT prequel, It: Welcome to Derry, is set for release in the coming months, but while viewers are waiting, they can watch another Stephen King adaptation released five years ago. The long-anticipated prequel to King's acclaimed novel, It: Welcome To Derry, is set in the 1960s and is set to explore the cast of It: Welcome To Derry includes Bill Skarsgård reprising his iconic role of Pennywise and will introduce new characters to the clown's backstory.

Stephen King's IT is considered one of the best horror stories ever written and inspired the release of several movie adaptations across the years, including It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019); reviews for the two-part IT adaptation were mainly positive, and grossed a combined $1.17 billion at the box office. In 2022, it was announced that HBO would develop a prequel series to the story with Jason Fuchs serving as a co-writer. The official trailer for It: Welcome To Derry promises viewers a dark view of the clown's backstory, but until its official release, an overlooked series can be checked out.

The Outsider Was HBO's First Stephen King Horror Show Before IT: Welcome To Derry

The Outsider Was Released In 2020

In 2020, HBO released the miniseries, The Outsider, adapted from Stephen King's 2018 novel of the same name. Developed by Richard Price, the crime drama series follows Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendlesohn), who is called to investigate the gruesome murder of a young boy, Frank Peterson, in Cherokee City, Georgia. Initially, it seems to be a simple open-and-shut case, with many believing local Little League coach, Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), to be responsible for the crime. But as the series progresses and new evidence is uncovered, Ralph soon discovers that this case is much more complicated than he expected.

Although one of the best horror miniseries of all time, it's surprising that HBO waited five years to adapt another of Stephen King's novels.

The Outsider Is Still One Of The Best Stephen King Adaptations

The Outsider Was Supposed To Receive A Second Season

While The Outsider has flown under the radar since its release on HBO, it is still considered one of the best Stephen King TV adaptations ever made. Since the 1970s, there have been more than 100 movie and TV adaptations of Stephen King's novels with varying levels of success. The Outsider is considered to be one of the greatest TV adaptations due to its ability to masterfully blend multiple themes while also keeping audiences in suspense, which is a critical element in all of King's books.

As of 2025, Stephen King's debut novel, Carrie, has received the most visual adaptations, having been adapted into four movies, including an unofficial sequel, and a Broadway musical.

King considers The Outsider one of the best adaptations of his works, tweeting his of the HBO miniseries on HBO decided not to renew The Outsider. While King and the cast expressed interest in continuing the series, it was never picked up by another network, ending The Outsider on an unresolved cliffhanger.

The Outsider's Success Is Great News For IT: Welcome To Derry

HBO Has Had Great Success In Creating Horror TV Series

While it is disappointing that The Outsider was never renewed for season 2, its critical success shows that HBO has what it takes to make It: Welcome To Derry a hit with audiences. HBO has already seen great critical success with other popular horror series, including Lovecraft Country (2020) and The Last of Us (2023), which perfectly highlights HBO's continued success in the horror genre.

It: Welcome to Derry's official trailer shows that HBO is approaching the prequel series with the right amount of suspense and terror to keep audiences entertained, while also remaining very faithful to King's novel. Stephen King was consulted throughout It: Welcome to Derry's production, and HBO ensured that he approved every aspect of the series before its release. HBO's previously acclaimed work in the horror genre and their working relationship with King guarantee It: Welcome to Derry's success, and The Outsider proves the perfect series to watch while waiting for an official release date.

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, Stephen King