The series Welcome to Derry takes viewers back to 1962 to reveal a previous wave of terror caused by the creature from the IT story. It delves into the troubled history of the town of Derry, Maine, leading up to a particularly brutal act of racial violence known as the Black Spot incident, which was made worse by the creature’s influence. By setting the story in the past, the series also expands on the existing lore from the recent IT films and connects to the broader Stephen King universe. It doesn’t hesitate to do so, subtly including clues and references for devoted fans to find, hinting at the larger, cosmic horror that underlies Derry’s dark history.
Setting the story 27 years before the first IT movie takes us back to when the future Losers’ Club members were kids and teens, experiencing their own terrifying childhoods. IT: Welcome to Derry carefully shows how these new characters are connected to the original heroes through family history. This allows the series to explore how the scary events of the 1960s affected entire families and ultimately created the problems and sadness that would later plague the Losers’ Club.
How Will Hanlon Connects to Mike
The first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry features Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), a highly respected Air Force veteran who relocates his family to the troubled town of Derry for a confidential mission. The second episode introduces his 12-year-old son, Will (Blake Cameron James), who quickly finds it tough being the new kid in a town full of hidden secrets. Will Hanlon’s last name is significant because he eventually becomes the father of Mike Hanlon – the future historian of the Losers’ Club and the only member who stays in Derry as an adult.
This link adds depth to the character of Leroy Hanlon from IT. The movie shows an older Leroy as Mike’s tough grandfather, who teaches him about life and death by making him kill lambs. The new series will explain how Leroy went from being a strong, respected soldier to the broken man living a solitary life on a farm, revealing the event involving Pennywise that changed him forever.
The Uris Family’s Generational Trauma
A particularly disturbing scene in the first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry is the violent killing of children at the movie theater, leading viewers to believe these were the kids who would become the next iteration of the Losers’ Club. One of those killed is Teddy, a young Jewish boy whose father is the town rabbi (played by Dmitry Chepovetsky). The second episode reveals his full name as Teddy Uris, establishing a clear family connection to Stanley Uris, the anxious member of the Losers’ Club we know from the original story.
The first episode features a dinner scene that completes the picture of Teddy’s family, introducing his parents and older brother, Don Uris (played by Finley Burke). Interestingly, Donald Uris is the name of Stanley’s father in Stephen King’s book. This connection reveals that Pennywise murdered Stanley’s uncle 27 years before Stanley himself faced his fears with the Losers’ Club. This family tragedy adds another dimension to Stanley’s character, suggesting he carries inherited trauma.
The Origin of the Bowers Family’s Violence
In the second episode, Derry’s police chief is under intense pressure to solve the horrific theater killings. Suspicion immediately focuses on Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), a Black employee of the theater, making him an easy target given the racial tensions of 1962 Derry. Although the chief isn’t identified in the show itself, co-creator Andy Muschietti shared a photo from the set in 2023 revealing his name: Clint Bowers.
In the story of IT, Henry Bowers is a cruel bully who terrorizes the group of friends known as the Losers’ Club. His behavior is heavily influenced by his own father, Butch Bowers, a police officer who is also abusive. The introduction of Clint Bowers, Henry’s grandfather, reveals a family history of power and violence within the Derry police force. This suggests that Butch learned his violent tendencies from his father, creating a disturbing picture of a family whose brutality is as much a part of Derry’s dark past as the evil clown, Pennywise.
A Precursor to Beverly’s Nightmare
The first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry includes a quietly disturbing detail. In the girls’ bathroom at the school, the name “Alvin Marsh” is written inside a heart on a stall door. This refers to Beverly Marsh’s abusive father and suggests he was a student himself in 1962—possibly even someone’s crush. This seemingly minor detail hints at the difficult childhood Beverly will face and her strong need to leave both her home and Derry.
New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry premiere on HBO every Sunday.
Which family connection between members of the Losers’ Club from IT: Welcome to Derry are you most interested in seeing developed further? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-11-02 18:10