IT: Welcome to Derry Puts Even More Pressure on One of the Next Major Stephen King TV Shows (But I Still Have Faith)

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The first season of HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry was a huge success, proving that audiences still love Stephen King’s horror stories. Launched in late 2025, the series quickly became a major hit for Warner Bros. Discovery and one of the most popular original shows on HBO Max. The season finale drew 6.5 million U.S. viewers in its first three days, and the series averaged almost 20 million viewers per episode worldwide. Critics also loved the show, giving it a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans were especially pleased to see Bill Skarsgård return as Pennywise, praising the prequel for capturing the chilling mood of the original films while delving deeper into the dark history of Derry.

The success of ‘Welcome to Derry’ raises the bar for future adaptations of Stephen King’s work. While acting as a prequel to the recent ‘It’ films, the series also connects to King’s wider universe of stories. A key character is young Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk), who has ties to the psychic world established in ‘The Shining’. The show is filled with connections to other King stories – one subplot features a character who will eventually end up in Shawshank Penitentiary, and there are frequent references to Juniper Hill Asylum. It even includes important symbols related to Maturin, a powerful cosmic turtle that plays a significant role in King’s overall mythology.

I’ve always loved how Stephen King’s stories subtly connect, and it’s amazing to see that the prequel really emphasizes that interconnectedness – it’s a signature of the Dark Tower universe, which feels like the center of everything he’s ever written. And now, a Dark Tower series is actually happening, with Mike Flanagan – a creator I really admire – at the helm! Honestly, expectations were already incredibly high, but after the phenomenal success of IT: Welcome to Derry, this new series has to be absolutely incredible. It needs to be a true masterpiece.

Mike Flanagan’s The Dark Tower Can Still Be the Best Stephen King Adaptation

Adapting Stephen King’s The Dark Tower for television has been a long journey, but it’s now showing real progress. Director Mike Flanagan secured the rights himself and considers this project his dream. He recently confirmed that scripts for many episodes are finished and that it remains his top priority. Flanagan envisions a five-season arc, followed by two separate movies to wrap up the story. Though he’s developing it independently, the series is expected to eventually stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Flanagan’s plan allows the adaptation to develop naturally, unlike past efforts to adapt The Dark Tower which felt hurried. The 2017 film attempted to fit the entire seven-book series into one movie, disappointing dedicated fans by leaving out important characters and failing to attract a wider audience to Stephen King’s interconnected world.

Despite many fans believing The Dark Tower is unadaptable, Mike Flanagan is uniquely positioned to take on the challenge. He’s already successfully adapted three Stephen King stories – the suspenseful Gerald’s Game, the expansive Doctor Sleep, and the recent drama The Life of Chuck. He’s also completed an eight-episode series based on Carrie, set to release in 2026. This proves he deeply understands the complex themes and character-focused horror that define King’s work. Putting this important corner of the King universe in the hands of a director who truly gets the author’s style gives fans confidence that the story will be treated with the care it deserves.

The first season of It: Welcome to Derry is currently available to stream on Max.

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2026-01-06 01:42