This interview contains spoilers from Episodes 1 and 2 of IT: Welcome to Derry*
We were joined on the Popternative show by Clara Stack who stars as Lilly in the prequel horror series, IT: Welcome to Derry, set in the world of Stephen King’s IT universe. The series expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films It and It Chapter Two.
The series premiered on Sunday, October 26 on HBO and HBO Max and, and the second episode was released earlier on Friday, October 31 as a Halloween treat for viewers. Welcome to Derry was the third most-watched series debut on HBO Max and the ending of episode one left audiences in pure shock with a twist no one saw coming.
As we are introduced to Lilly, Ronnie (Amanda Christine), Teddy (Mikkal Karim-Fidler), Phil (Jack Molloy Legault), and Susie (Matilda Legault), audiences begin to think they are the main crew who will bond over the season in search of their missing classmate, Matty (Miles Ekhardt). Unfortunately, the series opener ends with Teddy, Phil, and Susie being violently killed by the evil entity haunting Derry.
“We had this thing set up where [the point was] to make the audience think, ‘okay, this is our main cast of kids who we will follow throughout the series.’ And we were really hoping that it would be shocking for the audience. It was definitely a full circle moment and satisfying to see everyone’s total shock to the ending,” Clara says.
Clara also discusses the creepy and terrifying pickle scene in episode two where pickle jars in the grocery store suddenly become filled with the remains of Lilly’s late father who was killed in a work accident at a pickle-jarring factory. Who knew pickles could be so scary?
“I’ve never loved pickles and after [shooting] this scene, I definitely don’t like pickles. I never have and I don’t think I ever will. That scene was super crazy and gross at times to film. I was literally sitting in pickles for hours drenched in pickles and walking into the studio, [that’s all you] smelled. Leading up to that scene, we literally saw jars upon jars of pickles on set,” Clara says.
She adds, “And story wise, for the scene, I think it also really reflects one of Lilly’s biggest fears of losing her dad and the guilt she carries with that. It’s a really sad and unnerving scene because it ends with people calling her crazy again which is the thing that Lilly hates the most.”
Watch the full conversation with Clara Stack below.
A new episode of IT: Welcome to Derry airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max through December 14.
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