IT: Welcome To Derry’s New Trailer Is Worth Rewatching After That Shining Crossover Reveal, But I Still Think That Jar Of Pickles Is The Freakiest Thing In It

by

Are you picking up the sounds of children laughing and catching whiffs of popcorn and funnel cake scents? That’s a sign Pennywise is nearby, and he certainly shows up in the suspenseful new trailer for the prequel to Stephen King’s IT, titled IT: Welcome to Derry. Although his terrifying face hasn’t been shown yet, there are still many intriguing aspects to look forward to. One of them is the excitement following the confirmation at SDCC about a significant crossover with The Shining.

Indeed, as many fans had speculated, it turns out that Chris Chalk’s character in Derry will indeed be embodying the role of Dick Halloran from Stephen King’s renowned novel, The Shining. This character, known for his unique ability to shine, was previously portrayed by Scatman Cruthers in Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation and by Carl Lumbly in Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep. If you haven’t already seen the complete preview for the forthcoming horror series, I strongly recommend you give it a watch – but beware of the pickle jar!

Instead of focusing on the context surrounding the group of youngsters aiming to combat the reemerging ancient evil in Derry, let us shift our attention to the experiences of Dick Halloran with malevolent entities that he encountered far away from the Overlook Hotel.

Why Is The Shining’s Dick Halloran In IT: Welcome To Pennywise?

To clarify: Although Halloran appeared in Stephen King’s “IT” novel long ago, providing initial joy for readers through a crossover connection, it doesn’t fully explain why he is now part of the 2025 TV schedule this coming fall.

In the story, Dick Halloran co-founded The Black Spot, a bar & grill offering services to African American soldiers, where he also worked as a cook alongside Will Hanlon, father of Mike Hanlon from The Loser’s Club. Javon Adepo plays Will in the HBO adaptation. Tragically, this establishment was arsoned by bigoted locals, potentially instigated by Pennywise, leaving an ominous mark on the town’s history and etching a haunting memory into the minds of those who lived through it.

The Shining: 14 Behind The Scenes Facts About The Legendary Horror Film

In my humble opinion, while Richard Halloran isn’t a central figure in “IT”, the frequent appearances of Chris Chalk in the trailer hint at a more substantial role than merely tending to the Black Spot’s fire. Interestingly, we also catch a glimpse of him uncovering one of Pennywise’s traveling caravans, though its mysterious contents remain veiled.

I’m eagerly anticipating the portrayal of Dick Halloran’s storyline in IT: Welcome to Derry, and wondering if he will be the only significant character from another series who appears. At around the 39th second, there’s a glimpse of the Derry Herald newspaper that hints at an “Officer Gillespie,” which could potentially be Constable Parkins Gillespie, a minor character from ‘Salem’s Lot. However, I suspect it won’t be, but finding such intricate details is always thrilling.

Reflecting on it, the picture you see showcases a quick scrawl of Dick Halloran’s name tag, suggesting even without official confirmation at SDCC, such a glimpse could have convinced many.

I Already Believe That Pickle Jar Will Gross Me Out More Than Anything Else In IT: Welcome To Derry

The abundance of footage in the trailer effectively establishes the overall narrative of the town’s sinister events and the young characters entangled within. However, a startling and unsettling scene suddenly appears – an eerie hand, old and wrinkled, submerged in a jar of pickles. This image is off-putting even when static, but it becomes more disturbing due to its fleeting appearance in the split second we catch a glimpse of it.

As a movie critic, I must confess that even the most gruesome scenes involving massacres by a terrifying clown fail to faze me. However, the moment a character reaches for a pickle and grabs onto a jar containing brined appendages – that’s where my suspension of disbelief hits its limit. It’s simply unnerving to imagine such an organic scenario involving inorganic objects.

It seems likely that what we’re witnessing is just another hallucination brought on by Pennywise, but if that’s true, it won’t be the sole instance of grotesque body parts found inside sealed food containers. Frankly, I’d rather avoid discovering a toe peeking out from a can of Vienna sausages.

Although HBO Max has yet to set a definite release date for the series IT: Welcome to Derry, fans can expect it to debut sometime in October, likely closer to Halloween rather than earlier.

Read More

2025-07-27 21:38