The long Hollywood strikes that shut down productions last year were a major challenge for many shows. For the stars of HBO’s “IT: Welcome to Derry,” the extended break became a unique chance to build something real. Actor Stephen Rider, who plays the wrongfully imprisoned Hank Grogan, recently shared that the strike allowed him to form a genuine, family-like bond with his on-screen daughter, played by Amanda Christine. This off-screen connection is now helping to shape their powerful performances in the hit horror prequel series.
The Unexpected “Biggest Blessing” of the Strike
Stephen Rider spoke about the impact of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes on “The Official It: Welcome to Derry Podcast.” He called the forced production pause the “biggest blessing” for his relationship with his young co-star. Rider explained that they had only filmed a small portion of their scenes together before the industry-wide shutdown began. The eight-month break that followed provided an unexpected opportunity.
Instead of losing touch, Rider and Christine used the time to get to know each other away from the set. They stayed in regular contact through video calls. Rider, who is 46, described becoming a mentor figure to Christine. He compared their growing bond to a real-life uncle and niece relationship. This period of downtime allowed them to build a foundation of trust and intimacy that was not based on the pressures of an active filming schedule.
“I talk to them all the time. I still talk to Amanda, we talk. Like that’s my family,” Rider said on the podcast.
“And I think the biggest blessing beyond that, in a lot of ways, was the strike. Because it allowed all of us to really sit with these relationships,” he continued.
He emphasized that the connection they built was authentic. When they finally returned to set to resume filming, their relationship had grown into something real that naturally informed their roles.
From Off-Screen Family to On-Screen Authenticity
For Stephen Rider, the goal was to create a believable father-daughter dynamic that viewers could feel. He explained that the off-screen bond they developed meant he didn’t have to pretend to care for Amanda Christine’s character, Ronnie. The trust and affection were already there.
Rider highlighted the importance of Christine learning to trust him, noting it was particularly significant for her character’s experience. He made a consistent effort to be someone she could rely on, both as an actor and as a person. This commitment to showing up for each other, he believes, helped their performances go beyond what was written on the page.
“I think the biggest blessing is that we came back and we had a genuine relationship that transcended, just me and her… I love Amanda. And I didn’t have to pretend on loving her,” Rider shared.
Fans and critics watching “IT: Welcome to Derry” are now noticing the depth in the relationship between Hank and Ronnie Grogan. Even though Hank is locked away in prison for much of the series and they share limited screen time, the love and respect between the characters feels palpable. Rider credits the unexpected pause in filming for contributing to this emotional authenticity.
A Major Production Challenge for the Series
While the strike provided a personal benefit for Rider and Christine, it created significant hurdles for the overall production of “IT: Welcome to Derry.” Series co-creator Barbara Muschietti estimated that 90% of three episodes had already been filmed before the shutdown.
The eight-month delay forced the creative team to solve major logistical problems. One of the biggest issues was the change of seasons. “This is a summer show, but suddenly it wasn’t a summer show any more,” Muschietti told SFX Magazine. The team had to rework the season finale to account for a different climate.
Another major complication involved the show’s younger cast members. “The kids were growing. Voices were changing. Schedules of actors suddenly became hellish,” Muschietti explained. When production finally resumed, the child actors had grown inches and their original costumes no longer fit. Muschietti fully supported the writers’ and actors’ unions during the strikes but acknowledged the complexity it created for those in the middle of shooting.
The Heart of the Story: Hank and Ronnie Grogan
The relationship at the center of this real-life bond is crucial to the plot of “IT: Welcome to Derry.” In the series, Hank Grogan is a Black movie projectionist who becomes an easy target after three children are brutally murdered in his theater. Manipulated testimony leads to his wrongful conviction.
His daughter, Ronnie, played by Amanda Christine, is determined to prove her father’s innocence. Her investigation into the strange, supernatural events in Derry forms a key part of the story. She teams up with other characters, forming a new group to uncover the town’s dark secrets and fight the emerging evil of Pennywise.
Their story is a driving emotional force within the larger horror narrative. The genuine care between the actors now informs these scenes, adding a layer of real family devotion to the terrifying events unfolding in Derry.
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Where and When to Watch
Despite the production delays, “IT: Welcome to Derry” debuted successfully. The series premiered with a two-part episode on October 26, 2025, drawing 5.7 million U.S. viewers in its first three days.
New episodes are released weekly. The show airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max. The first season consists of eight episodes, with the season finale scheduled for December 14, 2025.
The series serves as a prequel to the popular “IT” films from 2017 and 2019 and is based on Stephen King’s novel. Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as the terrifying clown, Pennywise.
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