Andy Muschietti reveals major storyline he was forced to cut from It: Welcome to Derry

Andy Muschietti, the director behind the ‘It’ miniseries, has revealed that a significant character had to be removed because the story was already too complex.

Welcome to Derry expands on the world of Stephen King’s ‘It’, acting as a backstory to the two ‘It’ movies directed by Andy Muschietti, while also introducing its own original story and characters.

Working with Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, he has a plan for three seasons of the show, which will explore Derry’s history and reveal how the evil clown, Pennywise, came to be.

But one infamous character won’t be getting a back story as previously planned…

Sonia Kaspbrak’s It: Weclome to Derry storyline explained

That’s Sonia Kaspbrak, known to readers and viewers as Eddie’s controlling mother. She deceives him into believing he’s sick.

I was reading about early ideas for the ‘Welcome to Derry’ series, and it’s fascinating! Apparently, they originally had a character named Sonia showing up in town. The director, Andy Muschietti, told Straw Hat Goofy that she was meant to be an outsider – she came from Portland, working as a reporter for a small newspaper. It would have been cool to see that angle!

She’s reporting on the controversy surrounding the new Paul Bunyan statue, and people are protesting because they dislike it.

While I was following Sonia’s reporting, it quickly became clear something really weird was happening. She started noticing kids were going missing, and things just felt off. She immediately knew she had to switch gears and focus on this story – it was too big to ignore!

Why the character was cut

Muschietti explains that the fog surrounding Derry would eventually affect Sonia’s mental state, transforming her into the manipulative villain viewers love to despise.

According to director Muschietti, Sonia begins as someone who strongly opposes what’s happening around her. But as the episode unfolds, she gradually loses her resistance and becomes accepting of the community. Ultimately, she even becomes Eddie’s mother.

Mushietti explained the character was removed due to the sheer amount of story packed into the first season’s eight episodes. Additionally, the character Charlotte Hanlon was already investigating the strange events happening in Derry, essentially fulfilling the same role.

If you’re still craving more from Derry, I found an article explaining why the ending of the show was different from the book. Or, if you’re looking for something new to scare you, check out this list of the best horror TV shows and this one with the best horror movies ever made – I’ve already added a few to my watchlist!

Read More

2025-11-25 16:49