Why the Next Stephen King TV Show Is Bringing Back a Mysterious The Shining Character

by

The new HBO series, *Welcome to Derry*, will feature a significant character from Stephen King’s *The Shining*. This series acts as a prequel to the *IT* movies, exploring the origins of the terrifying clown Pennywise (again played by Bill Skarsgård) and his haunting of the town of Derry, Maine in 1962. Before the events involving the Losers Club, *Welcome to Derry* will show Pennywise’s early reign of terror, and it won’t just be him from King’s *IT* universe. Chris Chalk will star as Dick Hallorann, a key character from *The Shining*, playing a major role in the series.

Dick Hallorann is famous as the chef at the Overlook Hotel and becomes a friend to young Danny Torrance because they both have psychic abilities – a power known as ‘the shining.’ Though he appears in both the novel *The Shining* and its sequel, *Doctor Sleep*, the movies change his story significantly (be warned: he dies in Stanley Kubrick’s *The Shining*). However, Hallorann’s reappearance in the 1960s-set *Welcome to Derry* proves he remains an important character in Stephen King adaptations, and suggests he’ll play an even bigger role in future installments of that series.

Dick Hallorann’s Role in Stephen King’s IT Novel Explained

Stephen King’s novel *IT* explores the early life of Dick Hallorann, years before he worked at the Overlook Hotel. The story reveals how Hallorann helped found The Black Spot, a bar in Derry that became popular with Black soldiers in the 1930s. Sadly, the bar was destroyed by a white supremacist group called The Maine Legion of White Decency, who attacked and burned it down. Hallorann was able to save Will Hanlon, one of the few survivors of the attack.

I’ve always been fascinated by the way Stephen King connects his stories. It’s amazing to me that Will Hanlon, a character who doesn’t get a huge amount of attention in *IT*, is actually Mike Hanlon’s father! Mike goes on to become such a vital thinker for the Losers’ Club, both when they’re kids facing Pennywise and again as adults. Hallorann might not be a central figure in *IT* like he is in *The Shining*, but he’s one of those little details that makes King’s whole world feel so rich and connected. Interestingly, when Hallorann shows up in other stories outside of the novels, his role gets a little more complicated.

Dick Hallorann Has Had an Interesting Movie & TV History (& Almost Got His Own Movie)

Although Dick Hallorann doesn’t appear in the 1990 miniseries or Andy Muschietti’s films based on Stephen King’s *IT*, his character has been featured in several adaptations of *The Shining*. Stanley Kubrick’s film closely follows Hallorann’s role as the Overlook Hotel’s chef and his psychic connection with Danny, except for the ending where Jack Torrance kills him. The 1997 miniseries *Stephen King’s The Shining* more accurately depicts Hallorann’s role from the novel, showing him helping Danny and Wendy escape as Jack sacrifices himself to ensure their safety and the Overlook’s boiler explodes.

Hallorann’s character in the film *Doctor Sleep* is complex because the story had to account for his fate in both the original novel and Stanley Kubrick’s *The Shining*. In King’s book, Hallorann lives until 1999 and even communicates with Danny after his death by temporarily possessing another person. However, because Hallorann dies in Kubrick’s film, he appears as a spirit (played by Carl Lumbly) in *Doctor Sleep*. There were even plans for a prequel movie focused on Hallorann, but it was cancelled after *Doctor Sleep* didn’t perform well at the box office. Now, the upcoming *Welcome to Derry* movie could be a great opportunity to bring this kind and psychic chef back to the screen.

Why Dick Hallorann’s Role in Welcome to Derry Could Be Very Significant

Chris Chalk’s character, Dick Hallorann, is expected to have a much bigger role in the *Welcome to Derry* series than he did in Stephen King’s *IT* book. While the show won’t ignore Hallorann’s past – including the tragic events at The Black Spot – it looks like it will expand on his connections to Mike Hanlon and the other members of the Losers Club. The fact that Charlotte and Leroy Hanlon are major characters in the series, played by Taylour Paige and Jovan Adepo, suggests this will be a key focus. Hallorann’s life *before* the events of *The Shining* could even be central to the overall story of *Welcome to Derry*.

Andy Muschietti, the director, plans for the show *Welcome to Derry* to explore different eras in the town’s history, jumping back every 30 years. The series will focus on Mike Hanlon’s investigation into the recurring appearances of Pennywise, and will even show events like the burning of The Black Spot. Dick Hallorann will also have a major part in the show, likely expanding on his role from Stephen King’s *IT* novel. Although Hallorann’s story ended tragically in Stanley Kubrick’s *The Shining*, and a prequel movie never happened, his importance to the larger Stephen King story is clear. His prominent role in *Welcome to Derry* suggests a growing interconnectedness between King’s works on both television and film.

IT – Welcome to Derry will debut on HBO on October 26th.

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/scariest-scene-in-stephen-king-movie/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-17 00:42