It – Welcome to Derry

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The correct title of this article is It: Welcome to Derry. The substitution of the colon is due to technical restrictions.
It: Welcome to Derry
GenreSupernatural horror
Based onIt
by Stephen King
Developed by
Showrunners
Starring
Music byBenjamin Wallfisch
Opening theme"A Smile and a Ribbon" by Patience and Prudence
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella
  • Anna Beben
CinematographyDaniel Vilar
EditorEsther Sokolow
Running time54–66 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseOctober 26, 2025 (2025-10-26) –
present

It: Welcome to Derry is an American supernatural horror television series based on Stephen King's 1986 novel It. Serving as a prequel to the films It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), the series was developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs, all of whom were involved in the It films. The series stars Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, and Mikkal Karim-Fidler, with Bill Skarsgård (who also serves as an executive producer) reprising his role as Pennywise from the films.

Andy and Barbara Muschietti along with Fuchs were developing an It television series by March 2022. After receiving a production commitment later that November, Fuchs and Brad Kane were hired as showrunners. The series was greenlit in February 2023, with Andy Muschietti attached to direct multiple episodes, including the pilot episode, and Fuchs as a writer. Casting began later in April, including Skarsgård being cast in May 2024, and ended in July 2025. Filming for the series began in May 2023 but was halted that July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Filming ended in August 2024.

It: Welcome to Derry premiered on HBO on October 26, 2025. The series received generally positive reviews for its directing, production values, performances of the cast, the horror elements, and atmosphere, but drew some criticism for its reliance on jump scares, thinly-written characters and pacing.

Premise

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In 1962, a couple with their son move to Derry, Maine just as a young boy disappears. With their arrival, very bad things begin to happen in the town.[2]

Cast and characters

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Main

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  • Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon, Leroy's wife and Will's mother[3]
  • Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, an army major, Charlotte's husband, and Will's father. The character was previously played by Steven Williams in It (2017).[3]
  • James Remar as General Shaw, a general searching for a "weapon" in hopes to end the Cold War[4]
  • Stephen Rider as Hank Grogan, Ronnie's father[5]
  • Matilda Lawler as Marge, Lilly's friend
  • Amanda Christine as Veronica "Ronnie" Grogan, Hank's daughter
  • Clara Stack as Lilly Bainbridge, a girl dealing with the death of her father
  • Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon, Leroy and Charlotte's son and science enthusiast who finds it difficult to adapt to Derry[4]
  • Arian S. Cartaya as Rich
  • Miles Ekhardt as Matty Clements, a boy who disappears when Pennywise awakens
  • Mikkal Karim-Fidler as Teddy Uris
  • Jack Molloy Legault as Phil Malkin
  • Matilda Legault as Susie Malkin, Phil's sister
  • Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann, a soldier with special skills who helps the army search for a "weapon". The character was previously played by Scatman Crothers in The Shining (1980) and Carl Lumbly in Doctor Sleep (2019).[3]
  • Peter Outerbridge as Clint Bowers, the corrupt police chief
  • Madeleine Stowe
  • Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, an evil shapeshifting creature that sows chaos in Derry

Recurring

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  • Rudy Mancuso as Captain Pauly Russo, Leroy Hanlon's partner and friend in the army[4]
  • Dean Yool
  • Alixandra Fuchs as Terri Bainbridge, Lilly's mother
  • Kimberly Norris Guerrero as Rose[6]
  • Tyner Rushing
  • Dorian Grey as Loverboy Jax
  • Thomas Mitchell as Colonel Fuller
  • BJ Harrison as Louella Grogan, Ronnie's grandmother and Hank's mother
  • Shane Marriott as Reggie Davis
  • Chad Rook as Sgt. Masters, a racist military officer who has tension with Hanlon
  • Joshua Odjick as Taniel
  • Morningstar Angeline

Episodes

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No.Title [7]Directed by [8]Written by [1]Original release date [7]U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"The Pilot"Andy MuschiettiJason FuchsOctober 26, 2025 (2025-10-26)0.334[9]
In 1962, a boy, Matty Clements, asks a family to take him out of Derry, and the trip becomes increasingly bizarre as the family behaves worse; the woman gives birth to a mutant baby who attacks Matty. Four months later, Major Leroy Hanlon arrives at the Derry military base and suffers a racist episode. Lilly Bainbridge suffers a horrific vision of Matty singing a song and sees his bloody fingers from her bathtub; Lilly tells the vision to her friend Marge, Teddy Uris, and Phil Malkin, but no one believes her. Teddy then has a horrific vision of a human lampshade screaming at him. Lilly, Teddy, and Phil search for information about Matty's disappearance; they eventually reach Ronnie Grogan, who shares that she has also heard children's voices coming from the sewers outside the movie theater, singing the same song as Matty. Hanlon is ambushed by masked men and is saved by his friend and partner Pauly Russo. The group goes to the movies in search of answers, and Ronnie plays a movie in where they see Matty, who blames them before releasing the mutant baby, which kills everyone except Lilly, who is rescued by Ronnie.
2"The Thing in the Dark"Andy MuschiettiAustin GuzmanNovember 2, 2025 (2025-11-02)[a]TBD
The police investigate Hank Grogan, whom they blame for the children's murder and disappearance. Hanlon suspects that his attack was orchestrated by Soviet spies while Sergeant Masters is incarcerated for that. Charlotte Hanlon, Leroy's wife, walks through Derry and tries to break up a fight, but receives disapproving looks from the adults. Ronnie has a vision of her deceased mother. The army searches the woods for something with the help of Dick Hallorann, while being watched by Native Americans. Ronnie tells Lilly about her vision, and they discuss the version Lilly told the police. Leroy's son Will Hanlon has some difficulty adjusting, but he becomes friends with Rich and Ronnie. Chief Clint Bowers blackmails Lilly, and the police arrest Hank; Ronnie confronts Lilly at her house. Masters is cleared as one of the attackers by Hanlon. General Shaw tells Hanlon that he orchestrated the attack to test his fear and tells him that only he can recover a "weapon" that inspires fear in everyone. After another vision, Lilly returns to Juniper Hill, a psychiatric hospital. The army finds a car with corpses inside, a beacon to locate the weapon.
3"Now You See It"Andy MuschiettiGuadalis Del Carmen & Gabe HobsonNovember 9, 2025 (2025-11-09)TBD
4TBAAndy MuschiettiHelen ShangNovember 16, 2025 (2025-11-16)TBD
5TBATBABrad Caleb KaneNovember 23, 2025 (2025-11-23)TBD
6TBATBAJason Fuchs & Cord Jefferson & Brad Caleb KaneNovember 30, 2025 (2025-11-30)TBD
7TBATBAJason Fuchs & Brad Caleb KaneDecember 7, 2025 (2025-12-07)TBD
8TBATBAJason FuchsDecember 14, 2025 (2025-12-14)TBD

Production

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Development

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In March 2022, Variety reported that Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs were developing and serving as executive producers of a prequel television series of the film It (2017) for HBO Max titled Welcome to Derry, which was to take place in the 1960s before the events of the film and would also include the origin story of Pennywise.[11][12] It received a production commitment in November 2022, and Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane were hired as co-showrunners.[13] The series was given a greenlight in February 2023 with Andy Muschietti directing multiple episodes, including the pilot written by Fuchs.[14] Bill Skarsgård serves as an executive producer.[8]

Writing

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In January 2025, in an interview with Radio TU, Andy Muschietti revealed details about the source material and longer-term plans. He said that the series is based on interlude chapters from the It novel. He said that "There's a reason why the story is told backwards", where the three planned seasons are set in 1962, 1935, and 1908 respectively.[15][16] Muschietti mentioned how with the first season they are only "opening a window" of the story and that it will really "manifest" in the second and third seasons.[17] The series will also focus on why Pennywise stays in Derry when he could go "somewhere else" and that he takes advantage of children because adults do not understand what happens to them.[18] Executive producer Jason Fuchs said that the plan, apart from revealing the origin of Pennywise, is also the origin of the "cursed town". For Fuchs, Derry is also the entity "in many ways" because Pennywise "actually predates Derry". If given the opportunity, the planned seasons would leave a "different understanding of the creature, the town's rules, and what motivates It".[5]

Casting

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Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise from the films.

In April 2023, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, and James Remar joined the cast in starring roles.[12] Stephen Rider joined as a series regular and Madeleine Stowe as a recurring guest.[19] In May 2024, Bill Skarsgård was cast to reprise his starring role as Pennywise.[8] In June 2024, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Norris Guerrero, Dorian Grey, Thomas Mitchell, BJ Harrison, Peter Outerbridge, Shane Marriott, Chad Rook, Joshua Odjick, and Morningstar Angeline were cast in recurring capacities.[20] In July, Rudy Mancuso was cast in a recurring role.[21]

Filming

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Principal photography began in Toronto, Hamilton and Port Hope in May 2023, with the shooting title Greetings from Fairview, and was expected to continue through December.[22][23][24] Scenes were shot at the Delta Secondary School.[25] In mid-July 2023, production was suspended due to the SAG-AFTRA strike.[26] In August 2024, it was reported that production on the series had concluded,[27][28] and it was revealed that the series was titled It: Welcome to Derry.[29] Barbara Muschietti revealed the difficulty of returning to film the series with the child cast after the 2023 Hollywood strikes because they were "in a state of spontaneous growth".[5]

Music

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In May 2025, it was reported that Benjamin Wallfisch would score the series, returning from the films.[30]

Marketing

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The first teaser was released on May 20, 2025.[31] Part of the cast and director Andy Muschietti attended the San Diego Comic-Con 2025 to talk about the season and a teaser was shown to attendees, being released to the public the following day.[2] The official trailer was released on September 23, showing a full look at Pennywise.[32] Muschietti and some of the cast attended New York Comic-Con to talk about the season.[6] A red band trailer was released on October 14.[33]

Release

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It: Welcome to Derry premiered on HBO on October 26, 2025, with subsequent episodes airing weekly.[34] It was previously slated to stream exclusively on HBO Max.[35]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 82% of 93 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "While scattered plotting occasionally drains the fear from its chilling premise, IT: Welcome to Derry compellingly deepens the myth of Pennywise through sharp social commentary, a dreadful atmosphere, and committed performances."[36] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 61 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[37]

Emma Kiely for Collider emphasized how the story of the adults is much "stronger" than that of the children and that this group is not as "charming" as the group from the movies, but praised Taylour Paige's and Jovan Adepo's performances and identified Clara Stack as a "standout" from the group of children.[38] Chris Hayner for Polygon called the series an "excellent prequel" and said that he was more interested in the lore of Derry and the influence of Pennywise on it than in the films. He mentioned how the violence was "plenty graphic" and how Pennywise terrorizes and controls the town "through other methods".[39]

Chris Evangelista for /Film criticized the show's attempt to answer every mystery that is presented, even those that "no one was asking" and that it is not necessary to reveal Pennywise's origin since "things like that should defy a reasonable explanation", but praised that "it is consistently bloody" and that Bill Skarsgård does not appear in every episode, with Pennywise seen more as a "shape-shifting creature" that "enhances the show" with a higher variety of scares. He stated that the series would "satisfy hungry horror fans".[40]

Jack Hamilton for Slate dubbed the series "a baffling, half-baked mess", complimenting the acting performances of the adult cast and highlighting some standout horror sequences, but criticized the "one-dimensional" writing for the child characters, overly complex plotting, "dated" representation of Native Americans in the United States, weak fanservice and "ham-fisted forays into socio-historical commentary".[41]

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian awarded the series three out of five stars, calling the "demonic, liver-eating baby... horrifying", and concluding that "horror fans and fans of King's themes would likely enjoy the series [but] its visceral elements [may] push viewers' tolerance".[42]

Audience viewership

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It: Welcome to Derry garnered 5.7 million viewers in its first 3 days, becoming the third most-watched debut on the platform, behind only House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.[43]

Notes

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  1. ^ The second episode was released online on HBO's streaming service on October 31, to coincide with Halloween, and is set to be released on normal broadcast television on November 2.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "It: Welcome to Derry". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Campione, Katie (July 27, 2025). "'IT: Welcome To Derry' New Teaser Unveiled At Comic-Con Teases The Origins Of Pennywise's Terror". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Truitt, Brian (July 27, 2025). "Stephen King's 'It: Welcome to Derry' prequel for HBO gets first look". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Romano, Nick (October 8, 2025). "Meet the Hanlons! 'It: Welcome to Derry' stars introduce Mike's grandparents and the horrors of the 1960s". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Romano, Nick (October 16, 2025). "'Welcome to Derry': On set of the 'It' prequel tracing Pennywise's origins (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
  6. ^ a b White, Abbey (October 11, 2025). "'It: Welcome to Derry' Executive Producer Andy Muschietti and Team on How Prequel Builds on Unanswered Questions in Films and Book". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Shows A-Z - It: Welcome to Derry on HBO". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Andreeva, Nellie (May 30, 2024). "'Welcome To Derry': Bill Skarsgård To Reprise Pennywise Role In 'It' Prequel On Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  9. ^ Pucci, Douglas (October 29, 2025). "Sunday Ratings: 'It: Welcome to Derry' Premieres on HBO". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 27, 2025). "'It: Welcome To Derry' Episode 2 Gets Early Release On HBO Max For Halloween". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  11. ^ Otterson, Joe (March 29, 2022). "It Prequel Series in the Works at HBO Max". Variety. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  12. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 5, 2023). "HBO Max IT Prequel Series Welcome To Derry Sets Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, James Remar & Chris Chalk". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Otterson, Joe (November 9, 2022). "It Prequel Series at HBO Max Taps Jason Fuchs, Brad Caleb Kane to Serve as Co-Showrunners (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Cordero, Rosy (February 23, 2023). "IT Prequel Series Welcome To Derry Greenlit At HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Squires, John (January 9, 2025). "Planned Three Seasons of "Welcome to Derry" Will Take Place in These Three Distinct Eras". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on January 9, 2025. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  16. ^ Seddon, Gem (April 14, 2025). "IT: Welcome to Derry – everything you need to know about the new Max horror series". TechRadar. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  17. ^ Dodge, John (October 5, 2025). "New Stephen King Show Promises to 'Raise the Bar' When It Comes to Horror Scenes". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  18. ^ Rudoy, Matthew (October 11, 2025). "Pennywise's First Attack In IT Prequel Series Revealed In Terrifying New Scene". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 14, 2023). "Max It Prequel Series Welcome To Derry Welcomes Madeleine Stowe & Stephen Rider". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Petski, Denise (June 26, 2024). "It Prequel Series Welcome To Derry Adds 10 To Cast Including Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Dorian Grey, Joshua Odjick". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Petski, Denise (July 1, 2024). "Rudy Mancuso Joins It Prequel Series Welcome To Derry At HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Staff, Fangoria (May 8, 2023). "Filming Has Begun On IT Prequel Series Welcome to Derry". Fangoria. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  23. ^ Hyatt, Sarah (May 12, 2023). "'You may have noticed that our beautiful downtown looks a little different': Port Hope transforming for filming again". Northumberland News. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  24. ^ Rajput, Priyanca (May 9, 2023). "IT prequel series Welcome to Derry filming in Toronto, Canada". KFTV.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  25. ^ Nolan, Daniel (December 8, 2023). "High school horror picture Whistle finds a home in the hallways of Delta". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  26. ^ Hyatt, Sarah (July 13, 2023). "Update: Port Hope to welcome 'City of Derry' another time as July filming postponed". The Peterborough Examiner. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Schreur, Brandon (August 2, 2024). "Welcome to Derry: It Prequel Series Has Wrapped Filming". ComingSoon. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Northrup, Ryan (August 2, 2024). "IT Prequel Series Welcome To Derry Officially Wraps Filming". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  29. ^ Garner, Glenn (August 4, 2024). "HBO Teases Catherine O'Hara's 'The Last of Us' Role, First Footage Of 'The White Lotus' Season 3, 'A Knight of Seven Kingdoms'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  30. ^ "Benjamin Wallfisch Scoring HBO's 'IT: Welcome to Derry'". Film Music Reporter. May 20, 2025. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  31. ^ Moreau, Jordan (May 20, 2025). "'Welcome to Derry' Trailer: Pennywise Returns in It Prequel on HBO Max". Variety. Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  32. ^ Campione, Katie (September 23, 2025). "'IT: Welcome To Derry' New Trailer Teases "Something Bad Is Coming" In Andy Muschietti's HBO Prequel Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  33. ^ Edwards, Belen (October 14, 2025). "'IT: Welcome to Derry' red band trailer reveals the return of Pennywise". Mashable. Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  34. ^ Thomas, Matthew (September 2, 2025). "It: Welcome To Derry Sets Official Release Date On HBO Max". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  35. ^ White, Peter (November 2, 2023). "The White Lotus & Welcome To Derry Pushed To 2025 By HBO". Deadline Hollywood. [httpsg://web.archive.org/web/20231204172114/https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-white-lotus-welcome-to-derry-2025-1235590828/ Archived] from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  36. ^ "It: Welcome to Derry: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  37. ^ "It: Welcome to Derry: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  38. ^ Kiely, Emma (October 22, 2025). "'IT: Welcome to Derry' Review: HBO's Stephen King Prequel Doesn't Top the Films' Intense Scares". Collider. Archived from the original on October 26, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  39. ^ Hayner, Chris (October 22, 2025). "Welcome to Derry is the best, scariest It story yet". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 26, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  40. ^ Evangelista, Chris (October 22, 2025). "It: Welcome To Derry Review: The Stephen King Prequel Series Is Surprisingly Scary And Gruesome". /Film. Archived from the original on October 26, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  41. ^ Hamilton, Jack (October 25, 2025). "'It: Welcome to Derry' Is a Baffling, Half-Baked Mess". Slate. Archived from the original on October 31, 2025. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  42. ^ Mangan, Lucy (October 27, 2025). "It: Welcome to Derry review – the demonic, liver-eating baby in this Stephen King prequel is horrifying". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on October 31, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  43. ^ Seitz, Loree (October 30, 2025). "'It: Welcome to Derry' Frightens 5.7 Million Viewers in 3 Days, Becomes 3rd Biggest Series Premiere on HBO Max". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 31, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
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