Welcome to Derry isn’t simply a prequel to the IT movies; it also incorporates ideas from other Stephen King stories. The show blends completely new material with expanded storylines hinted at in the films, and adapts sections of King’s original IT novel, focusing on the events surrounding Pennywise in 1962 – particularly the interludes. It also includes characters and settings from other King works, like Dick Hallorann from The Shining (who also appears in the IT book) and Shawshank State Prison. Please be aware that the following contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 5 of Welcome to Derry.
Rudy Mancuso, who plays Paully Russo in the series, recently told ScreenRant about the connections to other Stephen King stories and how they’ll expand in the future. He explained that the show establishes Shawshank Penitentiary as a location within its universe – Hank Grogan was even sent there, though he escaped in a bus crash – and will further explore the character Hallorann’s psychic abilities. Mancuso was surprised by how much the show ties into other King works and hinted that even more connections are coming.
Which Other Stephen King Stories Could IT: Welcome To Derry Connect To?
It’s likely the show is drawing more connections to The Shining, especially as the character Hallorann becomes more central. We’ve already met his grandmother, and in the latest episode of Welcome to Derry, we learn about his ‘mental box’ – a way of hiding painful psychic experiences – and his difficult relationship with his grandfather, both of which were explored in Doctor Sleep. The series seems to be leading up to the destruction of The Black Spot, a significant event from the interlude sections of Stephen King’s IT, and Hallorann will play a crucial role in it.
The upcoming series, Welcome to Derry, has hinted at the presence of Maturin, a powerful, turtle-like being who is Pennywise’s ultimate enemy. Though Maturin was absent from the IT films, it plays a significant role in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. While the show likely won’t make heavy connections to those other stories, many fans wouldn’t be surprised to see the turtle finally make an appearance.
The trailers for IT: Welcome to Derry included a mysterious mist that seemed similar to the one in The Mist, enveloping the town. It’s unclear if this connection is intentional, but it would establish a significant link between the two stories. Beyond that, the show has a lot of material to pull from Stephen King’s other works, considering how Pennywise and Derry are interwoven with many of them. However, the series still needs to prioritize telling a focused and compelling story.
New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry are released on Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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2025-11-25 21:43