Where was IT Welcome to Derry filmed?

A much-awaited new horror series exploring the sinister backstory of Stephen King's terrifying child-stealing clown Pennywise has finally arrived today (October 27).

IT: Welcome to Derry has been brought to the small screen by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the sibling partnership responsible for 2017's IT film and its 2019 follow-up, IT Chapter Two, alongside Wonder Woman's Jason Fuchs. The show acts as a prequel to the cinema releases.

The eight-part series mines the "hidden" narrative that plays out across five 'interludes' within King's IT novel, which provide readers with additional insight into the backstory of the fictional town of Derry and its red-haired antagonist Pennywise.

These segments are presented through the perspective of the character Mike Hanlon in the book, reports the Daily Record.

The series' star-studded ensemble includes returning actor Bill Skarsgard, who is once again taking on the role of Derry's murderous clown following a string of "weird" discussions in the aftermath of IT Chapter Two.

Andy, who helms several instalments of Welcome to Derry, revealed to an audience at New York Comic Con: "I started having these weird conversations with Bill Skarsgard because we were high on the experience of doing IT Chapter Two.

"We started speculating and fantasising about a new story, a new movie, which was basically the origin story of Pennywise.How did IT become the clown? What role did the infamous and cryptic Bob Gray play?"

As the first episode of the new series lands, fans may be curious about where the show is filmed, given that its setting of Derry, Maine is famously not a real location.

The series was shot in various locations across Canada, but it's Port Hope, Ontario that might ring a bell for some viewers.

This is because the TV programme utilises some of the same filming sites as the IT films, including the town centre and suburban streets of the municipality.

The locale has earned the nickname "real-life Derry", and the Port Hope Tourism Board even provides an IT-themed walking tour, which includes visits to the fictional Quality Meats and Derry Public Library sites.

Other filming locations for the TV series include Hamilton, Ontario, where the former Delta Secondary School was transformed into Derry High. Additionally, CFB Borden, also in Ontario, houses a military airstrip used in certain scenes.

IT: Welcome to Derry premieres on Sky and NOW TV on October 27 with episodes then released weekly every Monday