INTERVIEW: ‘IT: Welcome To Derry’ Young Cast On Building Chemistry, Friendship And Confronting The Real Horror Behind The Series

Amanda Christine, Clara Stack, Matilda Lawler, and Arian S. Cartaya in IT: Welcome to Derry © HBO Max

IT: Welcome to Derry has proven to be a masterclass in horror storytelling. The true terror here isn’t merely a demonic clown lurking in the sewers, but the deeply rooted social prejudice simmering beneath the surface of the seemingly quiet town of Derry.

The series simply wouldn’t work without its stellar young cast, who are tasked with balancing supernatural scares alongside the very real horrors of racism and social injustice. Tensions that ultimately culminate in the devastating events at the Black Spot. Without their genuine chemistry and emotional authenticity, the penultimate episode in particular would not have landed with the same impact.

I had the opportunity to speak with Amanda Christine, Clara Stack, Matilda Lawler, and Arian S. Cartaya a week before the premiere about how they forged such a powerful bond both on and off set, and how that connection helped ground the series’ most harrowing moments.

Alex: Before joining the series, did you all revisit the old IT movies? Whether it's Andy Muschietti's or Tim Curry's classic from the 90s?

Amanda Christine: Actually, we did. It was super-duper fun because once we met each other, we decided to actually have a viewing at the place where we were staying at in Toronto, Canada, which was so fun because we previewed the first IT and then I think later on we eventually watched the second IT. I'm not too sure because we eventually had sleepovers and did movie nights and everything and it was just really fun to really sit there and watch it all together and be scared all over again.

Because me personally, I did watch the movie a couple months before I got the call that I booked the audition. So yeah, it was just really fun being able to do that with my crew mates.

Amanda Christine in IT: Welcome to Derry © HBO Max

Matilda Lawler: Yes, I agree with Amanda here. It was thrilling because like there is such a big universe to jump into with the books, with all the movies. There's so much there to already sink your teeth into.

So it was really fun to do the research.

Clara Stack: Yeah. Yeah, honestly, I mean, I watched the first IT movie when I was about nine years old, I think. So, I was kind of familiar with the IT universe.

But yeah, like Amanda said, we did revisit it and we did do a screening of it once we all met each other. It's just super fun. And yeah, getting to step into Stephen King's universe with this prequel series is honestly such an honor.

And when I first read the scripts, I was super excited.

Arian S. Cartaya: So I actually never watched the movies before I got the role. So, I actually watched the first movie when we were in Canada. And it was it was like a lot scary, like I thought it was a lot scarier than I thought.

I actually never watched the show back in the 90s with Tim Curry, but I did watch IT: Chapter Two. And yeah, for the preparation, I saw a lot of scenes from those two movies. And also, I watched like a ton of scenes from other shows.

And that really helped me with those scenes.

Alex: Now, you guys were amazing. And the first five episodes, like the chemistry between all of you, it was great.

I was just wondering, what was it you guys did on and off set that just kept the group together and create your own version of The Losers Club, so to speak?

Matilda Lawler: Yes, I love that. That's a really important part of this whole story for me. I think that's honestly the most important part is the connections that we made on set and the connections that our characters form with one another.

We did a lot of hanging out off set. I think when you're doing something with such an intense subject matter, you need to kind of laugh and have stupid fun. So, there was plenty of that.

We made a lot of really stupid movies. We did a lot of exploring. We had water gun fights and just anything that was fun and kid-like and just carefree is what we spent our time doing, which was a nice contrast to the more intense subject matters of the scenes.

Amanda Christine: Yeah, no, I definitely agree with Tilly on this one. It was so fun hanging out after set. We definitely created that bond and that dynamic off set.

And on set, too, we would have fun, too. But that was strictly for work and encouraging each other and building each other up, working on our scenes to figure out the story and the origin of the prequel to Pennywise. So definitely that.

But it was really fun just getting to hang out after set, go out to dinner, amusement parks, and just do fun things that we could get our hands on, literally anything.

Clara Stack: Yeah, especially being in Toronto, Canada, where we filmed. That was super cool because it was a new city for all of us. So, like both Tilly and Amanda mentioned, getting to hang out after set and explore the city and see new places and try new foods and go to amusement parks and all of that stuff, it was a lot of fun.

So, the bond was definitely there off set and on set as well.

Arian S. Cartaya: Um, so me and like all of the cast, we have like really good chemistry because like we hung out a lot when we weren't on set. So just based off that, like we were best friends from the start. And, um, you know, we would have like, um, script reads like when we needed to, and we were by each other's sides for every emotional scene there was.

So that, that chemistry really played a big part.

Alex: Oh, that's great. And now with working with Andy and Barbara Buccietti, did they help you understand the tone and the themes of Welcome to Derry? What was it working with them?

Arian S. Cartaya:Yeah, 100%. Andy and Barbara are super nice people. They're like, really nice.

They want you to feel comfortable. They want your confidence to build. You know, they're free for like when you have any questions, if you need like a little meeting before an emotional scene.

Yeah, they really want to make you feel comfortable.

Bill Skarsgård, Blake Cameron James, Amanda Christine, Clara Stack, Matilda Lawler, and Arian S. Cartaya  in IT: Welcome to Derry © HBO Max

Alex: So now looking within the darker themes of the show, for instance, how was it just meeting Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise for the first time?

Amanda Christine: Yeah, no, definitely to touch on that question, it was a scary experience. It was fun because they kept him very top secret. So, it was not months, but months leading up to us meeting him.

So, it was really, really fun for us to build up that fear and really build up the anticipation of meeting him. So, what you guys see on the screen is our raw reaction to Pennywise. And he was just so scary in costume and we'd like see sneak peeks of him every now and then, which was really fun.

But yeah, it was definitely something crazy.

Matilda Lawler in IT: Welcome to Derry © HBO Max

Alex: Well, it looks like I might be wrapping up right now. Out of you all, if you were in the sewers with Pennywise, who would be the first one to make it out? Be honest.

Matilda Lawler: Amanda, I think you would. I'm going to come out here and say, Amanda, you're strong.

Clara Stack: I was going to say the same thing.

Amanda Christine: And also because you're with like Arian and you have glasses, that's the only reason why I'm like dimming to the left.

Alex: Hey, hey, hey, don't say anything against the Marge character! She was great.

Amanda Christine: We love Marge! I love Marge!

Matilda Lawler: Facts. Facts. Facts. Thank you, guys.

Alex: But the Patty Cakes, we need to talk about that on another time.

Matilda Lawler: I know, I know. Hey, that's in the past though. That's in the past.

Clara Stack: She's changed.

Amanda Christine: She has changed.

IT: Welcome to Derry is now streaming on HBO Max.

---

 This interview has been edited for clarity.