The worlds of Stephen King are famously interconnected, and two major TV adaptations have brought those links to the screen. The Hulu series Castle Rock, which wove together elements from numerous King stories, has a distinct relationship with HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry, the prequel to the recent It films. While they tell different stories, they are bound by shared locations, a common actor, and the foundational rules of King’s horror multiverse.
For fans looking for more after the first season of Welcome to Derry concluded, Castle Rock is now available to stream on Netflix.
How the Shows Connect Through Shared Stephen King Mythology
The primary link between Castle Rock and IT: Welcome to Derry is not a direct plot crossover but a shared narrative foundation. Both series treat King’s fictional Maine as a cohesive universe where evil is a recurring, cyclical force. In Derry, the evil is a singular, ancient entity like Pennywise that awakens to feed every 27 years. In Castle Rock, the town itself is a magnet for tragedy and supernatural events, from cursed shopkeepers to dimensional rifts.
This creates a similar tone where residents live alongside horror so long it becomes normalized. The adults in both towns often see the signs of evil but choose denial or inaction, leaving the children to confront the truth. This thematic parallel makes the shows feel like they exist in the same world, even if their monsters differ.
Bill Skarsgård Bridges Both Worlds as Different Monsters
The most concrete casting link between the two series is actor Bill Skarsgård. In IT: Welcome to Derry, he reprises his iconic role as the shape-shifting, fear-feeding entity Pennywise.
In Castle Rock, Skarsgård plays a completely different but equally enigmatic being known as “The Kid.” Found imprisoned in the bowels of Shawshank State Penitentiary, The Kid is a mysterious figure whose true nature—whether he is a divine being, a devil, or a man displaced from another dimension—drives the mystery of the show’s first season. His presence in both shows is a treat for fans, connecting them through the actor’s compelling portrayals of King’s monsters.
Key Locations That Appear in Both Series
Stephen King’s universe is built on iconic, recurring places. Two locations featured in IT: Welcome to Derry were also central to Castle Rock, physically tying the stories together.
- Shawshank State Penitentiary: This is the most famous prison in King’s world, originating from the novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. In Castle Rock, Shawshank is a major setting where much of the first season’s action takes place. In IT: Welcome to Derry, the prison is also referenced. A bus from Shawshank is seen, and a character is threatened with being sent there.
- Juniper Hill Asylum: This psychiatric hospital is another landmark. In IT: Welcome to Derry, a young character named Lilly is committed to Juniper Hill after traumatic encounters with It. In Castle Rock, The Kid is also sent to Juniper Hill, where he sets a fire to escape. The asylum appears in over ten different King stories, making it a classic connective tissue.
Castle Rock co-creator Sam Shaw once described the show’s goal as creating “the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of King’s best-loved works, weaving an epic saga of darkness and light, played out on a few square miles of Maine woodland.”
Castle Rock Explained: A Tour of King’s Greatest Hits
Unlike a direct adaptation, Castle Rock was an original story that served as a “greatest hits” compilation of King’s world. The first season follows death row attorney Henry Deaver as he returns to his hometown of Castle Rock and becomes involved with the mysterious Shawshank prisoner known as The Kid.
The town is populated by characters and references from other King tales:
- Alan Pangborn: The retired sheriff, played by Scott Glenn, is a major character from novels like Needful Things and The Dark Half.
- Jackie Torrance: A real estate agent who reveals she is the niece of Jack Torrance from The Shining and changed her name in his “honor”.
- Molly Strand: A real estate mogul with psychic abilities, living in a house where serial strangler Frank Dodd (from The Dead Zone) died.
The second season shifts to a new story, serving as a prequel to Misery. It follows a younger version of the obsessive nurse Annie Wilkes, played by Lizzy Caplan, as her path leads her to the town of Castle Rock.
Welcome to Derry Expands the IT Lore and King’s Multiverse
IT: Welcome to Derry is a direct prequel to the 2017 and 2019 It films, set in 1962. It follows a new group of children and adults as they encounter Pennywise 27 years before the Losers’ Club. The show deeply explores the origins of the Hanlon family, as Air Force Major Leroy Hanlon is the grandfather of Mike Hanlon from the films.
The series also introduces major characters from other King works into Derry’s history:
- Dick Hallorann: The psychic cook from The Shining, played here by Chris Chalk, is a young man working on the Derry Air Force base. He uses his “shine” to help confront It, with the season ending on his decision to become a chef at a certain hotel.
- Marge Truman: A key child character is revealed to be the future Margaret “Maggie” Tozier, mother of Richie Tozier from the Losers’ Club.
The season one finale also featured a post-credits scene set in Juniper Hill Asylum in 1988, showing a young Beverly Marsh and an older Ingrid Kersh, creating a direct bridge to the events of the It films.
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Where to Watch These Connected King Stories
For viewers who have finished IT: Welcome to Derry and want to dive deeper into the connected universe, Castle Rock is the perfect follow-up.
- IT: Welcome to Derry: The complete first season is available for streaming on HBO Max.
- Castle Rock: Both seasons of the series are now available to stream on Netflix.
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