The upcoming horror series IT: Welcome to Derry will do more than just explore Pennywise’s origins. The prequel show is officially connecting to other Stephen King stories, bringing characters from The Shining and The Shawshank Redemption into its terrifying narrative.
The Shining Connection
Dick Hallorann, the charismatic chef from The Shining who possesses psychic abilities, appears as a major character in Welcome to Derry. This time, he is portrayed by actor Chris Chalk. In the new series, Hallorann works as a chef at The Black Spot, a location with a dark history that was briefly mentioned in King’s original IT novel.
Series creator Andy Muschietti explained the decision to include Hallorann was straightforward. “For us, it was a no-brainer. Dick was an outstanding character, not only because he’s in The Shining but also because his power is definitely ingrained in the story,” he said in an interview. The character’s psychic abilities, referred to as “the Shine,” may play a crucial role in understanding Derry’s dark history and Pennywise’s origins.
Shawshank Prison Arrives in Derry
The connections extend beyond The Shining. The trailer for Welcome to Derry featured a prison bus marked with the Shawshank State Prison logo, which many fans initially assumed was a simple Easter egg. However, the creators have confirmed this represents a significant plot point.
Andy Muschietti revealed that one of the show’s characters is wrongfully accused and sent to the infamous Shawshank Prison. He teased the character’s fate by posing an intriguing question: “Does he arrive to Shawshank?” The timelines of Welcome to Derry and The Shawshank Redemption align perfectly, meaning this character could have potentially interacted with that story’s main characters, Andy Dufresne and Red.
Stephen King’s Existing Shared Universe
These crossovers continue a long tradition of connections throughout Stephen King’s works. Many of his stories reference the same locations and characters, creating what fans often call the “Stephen King multiverse.”
- The town of Derry, Maine appears in multiple King novels beyond IT
- Castle Rock, another fictional Maine town, serves as the setting for several King stories
- Shawshank Prison is referenced in other King adaptations like Dolores Claiborne
- The concept of “the Shine” from The Shining later appeared in the Dark Tower film
The upcoming series builds upon this existing framework by making these connections direct and plot-relevant rather than simple background references.
Series Premise and Background
IT: Welcome to Derry is set in 1962, nearly three decades before the events of the 2017 IT movie. The story follows a family that moves to Derry just as a young boy disappears, with their arrival coinciding with a resurgence of terrible events in the town.
The series draws from historical events mentioned in the IT novel, particularly the burning of The Black Spot. This was a nightclub founded by Black soldiers that was destroyed by a white supremacist group, an event that occurred with Pennywise’s sinister influence.
Bill Skarsgård will return to play Pennywise the Clown and also serves as an executive producer on the series. The creative team behind the IT films, including Andy and Barbara Muschietti, are leading the project.
The first season of IT: Welcome to Derry will premiere on October 26, 2025 on HBO. The creators have mentioned plans for potential future seasons that would explore even earlier time periods in Derry’s horrifying history.
Also Read: Stephen King Calls New It: Welcome to Derry Series “Terrorizing” Ahead of Premiere
