How Salem’s Lot Inspired Sinners—and Its Surprising Link to IT

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Over the past few days, my thoughts have been deeply immersed in Ryan Coogler’s film, Sinners. As I expressed in my glowing review for TopMob, it’s challenging to determine if it’s a superior crime or horror movie, but its visual artistry is undeniably captivating. Michael B. Jordan has delivered the most impressive dual performance of 2025 so far, and with an unexpectedly large number of standout performances this year, that’s saying something. I’ve been pondering it from various angles, but one aspect that particularly grips me is its link to the world of Stephen King.

In this week’s edition of The King Beat, my fascination is gracing the top spot, but it shares the limelight with an amusing twist surrounding one of Stephen King’s less successful adaptations that has recently surfaced. There’s a wealth of intriguing details to explore, so let’s delve right in!

Sinners Shares A Lot In Common With The Story Of The Black Spot In IT, And It Makes Me A Bit Curious About How It Will Impact IT: Welcome To Derry

Ryan Coogler is a movie maker whose previous work has always left me eager for his next project. However, the film “Sinners” particularly caught my attention a few months back. When asked about his inspirations for the horror story set during Prohibition, Coogler mentioned some contemporary directors I admire, such as Joel and Ethan Coen and John Carpenter. Interestingly, he also highlighted Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot” as a significant influence.

After watching “Sinners,” I must admit that Ryan Coogler’s distinctive touch has skillfully blended a captivating array of elements, resulting in an extraordinary cinematic experience. However, as a dedicated Stephen King fan, my brain keeps spinning with a humorous twist. It’s evident where “Salem’s Lot” leaves its mark (a nod to something starting with the letter “V”), but I can’t shake off the feeling that there are echoes of a specific segment from the iconic “IT.” The intrigue deepens when you consider that the film and the upcoming King TV series, “IT: Welcome To Derry,” both hit the screens in the same year.

In the 1930s United States, a group of Black individuals band together to create a juke joint – a safe haven where those suffering from racial discrimination can socialize, enjoy music, and dance. Although these moments are joyful, they prove fleeting as the night takes a violent turn, transforming what was meant to be an enjoyable evening into one marked by death and sorrow.

If you’re finding it hard to follow my explanation, let me clarify: The events depicted in the book Sinners and the story of the Black Spot from IT share some striking similarities. For instance, both stories are discovered by a character (Mike Hanlon in this case) under unusual circumstances – at his dying father’s bedside for the latter. However, there are significant differences as well: The settings are different (Mississippi vs. Maine), the characters organizing these events are of distinct backgrounds (gangsters vs. soldiers), and there are no vampires in the Black Spot story; instead, it involves a group resembling the KKK called the Maine Legion of White Decency. Despite these differences, the underlying themes and patterns are noticeable.

Currently, only dedicated Stephen King readers who’ve delved into the book will recognize the correlation between “Sinners” and “IT”. However, the association becomes more meaningful as the tale of the Black Spot is poised to take center stage in the near future. The upcoming HBO prequel series titled “IT: Welcome To Derry“, produced by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, will shed light on this very story. Set within the same universe as the 2017 and 2019 blockbuster horror films “IT” and “IT: Chapter Two”, this series is primarily based on the Black Spot flashback. The narrative will be moved to 1962 to align with the timeline adjustment seen in these movies, although it’s anticipated that essential details will remain unchanged.

It appears that neither Sinners nor IT: Welcome To Derry is causing any concern among their creators, Warner Bros. Discovery, as both are their productions. However, I must note that the upcoming HBO series may face a challenge upon its airing. Given the inevitable comparisons to the Ryan Coogler film, comparisons that could prove difficult given the exceptional reception Sinners has received this year, it’s safe to say the new series will have a tough time standing out. I can easily imagine social media posts featuring Michael B. Jordan as Smoke and Stack from IT: Welcome To Derry with captions like, “I’ll tell my kids this was IT: Welcome To Derry.

If we look at the situation from a positive perspective, both stories can harmoniously co-exist. The Black Spot tale is expected to serve as the main plot in “IT: Welcome To Derry,” but since it’s a TV series, there will be room for additional narratives that could offer distinct content for viewers. Additionally, given the changing setting (the 1930s and 1960s were quite different periods) and the fact that characters are in the military, the storylines might unfold differently. Lastly, I’m hoping it will pave the way for a canonical crossover with Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” and Mike Flanagan’s “Doctor Sleep.

In a short while, we’ll know more. Currently, “Sinners” is captivating audiences at cinemas nationwide (making quite an impression during its premiere weekend at the box office), however, the release of “IT: Welcome To Derry” on HBO remains undetermined until the chilling season approaches (the exact date has yet to be disclosed). The upcoming horror series features Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, James Remar, Taylour Page, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, and Bill Skarsgård reprising his role as Pennywise The Dancing Clown. Rest assured, we’ll keep you updated on all the major developments regarding it here at TopMob in the run-up to its premiere.

Completely On His Own Volition, Emilio Estevez Recently Wrote A Maximum Overdrive 2 Script

While I find Maximum Overdrive amusing with its eccentricities like The Green Goblin truck and the ATM insulting Stephen King, I wouldn’t classify it as a great film. Giancarlo Esposito might admire Stephen King’s initial foray into writing and directing, but the movie lacks a coherent plot, and its characters are underdeveloped. Nevertheless, it has built a dedicated fanbase over the years since its release in 1986, so I’m not too surprised to hear that Emilio Estevez attempted to produce Maximum Overdrive 2.

In the original movie, you might recall that Estevez played Bill Robinson, a line cook at a roadside diner whose customers were under attack because machines worldwide had gained consciousness and turned against humanity. Although Estevez didn’t contribute to the script of Maximum Overdrive, it’s not often celebrated by his fanbase as one of his best performances. However, in 2023 during Hollywood’s summer hiatus due to simultaneous labor strikes, he drew inspiration and began penning a sequel. In a recent interview on the HappySadConfused podcast, he disclosed this information.

Reflecting on the rapid advancements in computer technology and artificial intelligence, I found myself contemplating a sequel to Maximum Overdrive. During the strike, I penned down an initial draft of this concept… Please note that I don’t hold any rights to this work. It was merely my creative endeavor; I initiated it, starting from page one, developing an idea, and now I’m on page 10, moving onto page 20, and the story has grown to 50 pages. I find myself unable to stop writing it.

The film rights for “Maximum Overdrive,” which is based on Stephen King’s short story “Trucks,” are owned by the company established by producer Dino De Laurentiis. However, Emilio Estevez didn’t let this minor detail hinder his creativity. Instead, he penned a screenplay independently, recognizing that it needed approval to progress further.

In essence, Estevez failed to generate interest in his script for Maximum Overdrive 2. However, it’s encouraging that this situation allowed him to express his ideas more freely during an interview. According to the actor/screenwriter, the story would have followed Bill Robinson many years later, still working in the food service industry but with a significantly improved position.

In my imagination, I constructed a chaotic setting centered around a diner. If you recall, there’s a film with such a premise – but let me assure you, it wasn’t a masterpiece. The protagonist is a short order cook. The story starts with him owning his diner, caring for his daughter, and managing his staff. On the day when reality crumbles and machines transform, the Food Network star Guy Fieri arrives to film Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. It was an intriguing concept. The script was top-notch. However, De Laurentiis rejected it, saying they already had rights to something similar and preferred to go in a different direction. I conceded.

Although I’m not advocating for the production of a Maximum Overdrive 2, especially without the approval from De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, my interest is genuinely piqued by the prospect of reading Emilio Estevez’s script, driven purely by curiosity. There are numerous questions that I long to have answered.

Wrapping up for today’s episode of The King Beat, remember that it simply means we’re a week away from the next installment! You can find my weekly summaries of Stephen King’s latest updates right here on TopMob every Thursday. With an array of upcoming movies and series like “The Life Of Chuck“, “The Long Walk“, “The Running Man“, “IT: Welcome To Derry” and “The Institute“, there’s no doubt we’ll have plenty of intriguing topics to explore in the coming days!

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2025-04-24 19:09