'It: Welcome to Derry' Showrunner Reveals How 'Friday the 13th' Part III Shaped the 'It' Prequel Series

Growing up in the 1980s, when slasher movies ruled the big screen and horror fans packed theaters every weekend, had a huge influence on Brad Caleb Kane. Those blood-soaked, scream-filled nights stuck with him—and years later, they helped shape his work as the co-showrunner of HBO's 'It: Welcome to Derry.'

As a kid, Kane regularly packed into massive theatres every Friday night to watch the latest horror releases. Movies like 'Friday the 13th Part III,' which he saw in 3D, along with 'The Burning' and 'The New Kids,' played to loud, reactive crowds. Those shared experiences shaped how he thinks about storytelling today.

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Brad Caleb Kane's 'Friday the 13th Part III' Experience

One moment from 'Friday the 13th Part III' has stuck with him for decades. He vividly remembers the audience losing their minds when a shocking kill sent an eyeball flying toward the screen. Watching the crowd scream and react made him realise he wanted to create that same kind of intense, unforgettable reaction in his own work.

That childhood feeling directly influenced the tone of 'Welcome to Derry.' Kane says the goal was to create an emotional roller coaster that pulls viewers in so deeply they feel everything, from fear and shock to grief and joy. He wanted audiences to cry over character deaths, jump out of their seats during scares, and cheer during unexpected triumphs.

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Influence on 'Friday the 13th Part III' on 'It: Welcome to Derry'

Much like classic slashers, the first season of 'Welcome to Derry' didn't shy away from bold choices. The show opened with a brutal twist that wiped out characters viewers initially thought were safe. It also delivered unsettling new versions of Pennywise, along with Richie’s emotional sacrifice and dramatic return in the finale.

Kane, a lifelong Stephen King fan who first read 'Cujo' at age eight, also credits filmmaker Andy Muschietti for fully embracing horror in the recent 'It' movies. That fearless approach carried over into the prequel series. Brad Caleb Kane describes the creative team as willing to take big risks, including a major change to the pilot episode. Originally, most of the kids survived, but Kane suggested killing off the majority of them early to make it clear that no one was safe. The idea was immediately embraced.

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That decision helped define the show's unpredictable tone and confirmed for Kane that he was working with the right creative partners. From that point on, the team leaned into daring storytelling choices that made the series feel wild, emotional, and surprising.

When it came to Richie sacrificing himself to save Marge, Kane says the choice felt natural based on the character they had built. He's especially proud of how their relationship developed and how it paid off emotionally in the end.

Another standout moment, Richie's defiant gesture toward Pennywise in the finale, came from Andy Muschietti. While Brad Caleb Kane knew the idea was clever, he didn't expect it to land as such a powerful and crowd-pleasing moment. The scene also subtly connected Richie to the 'It' films, tying the characters and themes together in a way that felt organic.

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Those kinds of Easter eggs, along with references to the wider Stephen King universe, were designed to feel natural rather than forced.

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Update on More 'It: Welcome to Derry' And 'Friday the 13th' 

While plans are already in place for two more seasons of 'It: Welcome to Derry', Kane is also working on another major project: a 'Friday the 13th' prequel series for Peacock, produced by A24. The show focuses on Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother and the original killer in the franchise, and stars Linda Cardellini.

Described as a psychological, paranoid thriller with a 1970s vibe, the series still draws inspiration from Kane’s early moviegoing experiences. His goal remains the same as it was when he was a kid in those packed theatres: to make audiences feel shocked, thrilled, and completely hooked.

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Kane says the upcoming series is truly Pamela's story, with Cardellini at the centre. While Jason does appear, the focus is on his mother's journey. He promises the show will surprise viewers and showcase Cardellini in a way audiences haven't seen before, calling her performance gripping and impossible to look away from.

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