It: Welcome to Derry: Matilda Lawler Swaps Holiday Cheer for Horror
2 mins readFans of Matilda Lawler who enjoyed her clever and heartfelt performance as Betty the Elf in Disney Plus’s The Santa Clauses now have something very different to look forward to. The rising young star, also known for Station Eleven and Flora & Ulysses, has stepped into the chilling world of It: Welcome to Derry, the new prequel series to Stephen King’s iconic horror story. The series premiered October 26 on HBO and is now streaming on HBO Max.
Set in 1962, decades before the events of It, the series explores the early history of the cursed town of Derry, Maine, where fear itself takes shape long before the Losers Club ever faces Pennywise. Developed by It director Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, the series delves deeper into the town’s unsettling origins and the forces that continue to haunt its people.
Matilda Lawler portrays Marge, a high-school student learning to navigate the strange undercurrents of Derry alongside her best friend, Lilly Bainbridge, played by Clara Stack. While Lilly becomes the target of cruel bullying and unexplained terrors, Marge stands by her side as a loyal and empathetic friend. Their friendship becomes an emotional thread through the darkness, grounding the story in humanity as the town faces a wave of disappearances, including that of a young boy named Matty, whose vanishing sets thetone for Derry’s mounting fear.
The shift from the warmth of holiday magic to the dread of supernatural horror shows Lawler’s incredible range. Her portrayal of Marge adds emotional weight to a story filled with psychological unease and mystery. Critics and fans alike have already noted her ability to bring sincerity to a character surrounded by chaos, helping balance the show’s disturbing atmosphere with genuine compassion.
With its mix of psychological horror, period detail, and heartfelt performances, It: Welcome to Derry expands the world first seen in the 2017 and 2019 films. Lawler’s performance stands out as one of the early highlights of the series, reminding viewers why she remains one of Hollywood’s most versatile young talents. Episodes are now streaming weekly on HBO Max.
