HBO is set to release It: Welcome to Derry in October 2025, serving as a prequel to the popular film adaptations of Stephen King’s It directed by Andy Muschietti. This new series will delve into the events taking place between the chapters of King’s novel, revisiting the eerie town of Derry and reintroducing Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise to fans. Beyond its initial scope, the show appears to be laying the groundwork for a broader Stephen King shared universe setup, as suggested by the presence of characters like Dick Hallorann and references to Shawshank Penitentiary seen in early trailers.
By revisiting Derry, the series not only taps into a rich setting beloved by King’s fans but also creates opportunities to interconnect with other stories in King’s extensive multiverse, potentially marking a new era of storytelling that links various King narratives under one umbrella.
Stephen King’s Interconnected Multiverse Predates Modern Shared Universes
Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized interconnected storytelling across films and television, Stephen King crafted a literary world where characters, locations, and events overlap throughout his works. Many of his novels and stories reference one another, creating what fans call the Kingverse. For instance, Ace Merrill from The Body (adapted as Stand by Me) appears in Needful Things, and the enigmatic antagonist Randal Flagg from The Stand also features in Hearts in Atlantis. This complexity makes each King story a part of a larger, intertwined narrative.
The town of Castle Rock is often regarded as the centerpiece of the Kingverse, but Derry stands as a similarly significant hub. Derry directly features in at least eight of King’s works, including It, Bag of Bones, and Secret Window, Secret Garden, with far more references scattered throughout other titles. Surrounding towns from other novels, such as Haven in The Tommyknockers and Ludlow in Pet Sematary, border Derry, enriching the shared geography of King’s universe. This extensive interconnected setting means nearly any character or entity from the Kingverse could potentially appear in It: Welcome to Derry.
Setting the Story in the 1960s Shapes the Series’ Crossover Opportunities
The timeline of the first season of It: Welcome to Derry is anchored in the 1960s, which may constrain certain crossovers with characters introduced in stories set later. For example, it is unlikely that Patrick Danville from Insomnia, whose story unfolds decades later, will appear. Nevertheless, the time frame still leaves room for intriguing links to other narratives.
One prime example is Jake Epping from 11/22/63, a time-traveling protagonist who could naturally intersect with Derry’s timeline, as is subtly referenced in King’s 2011 novel where Epping encounters Beverly Marsh and Richie Tozier from It. Similarly, Alan Pangborn, a future sheriff of Castle Rock appearing in Needful Things and The Dark Half, could be presented as a child visiting Derry with his parents during the 1960s. George Bannerman, another Castle Rock law enforcement figure from Cujo and The Dead Zone, might also fit into the show’s world at this stage.
Beyond these examples, many other characters from King’s Maine-centric stories, including Dolores Claiborne and those from Salem’s Lot, could be referenced or featured. But the series’ potential stretches well beyond human characters.
Potential for Supernatural Entities to Expand the King Universe in the Series
Given Stephen King’s penchant for supernatural horror, It: Welcome to Derry has the potential to incorporate various otherworldly beings from his expansive mythos. Besides Pennywise, the story might introduce entities such as the Low Men in Yellow Coats, the mysterious Little Bald Doctors, and iconic villains like Randall Flagg. With the multiverse concept anchored in King’s The Dark Tower series, characters connected to that storyline, including Roland Deschain, could plausibly appear, as the town of Derry may serve as a nexus point linking his broader universe. This connection emphasizes the significance of “all things serving the beam,” a central tenet in King’s multiverse.
The cinematic adaptations of It have already adjusted the timeline from King’s original late 1950s and 1980s setting to a new span over the late 1980s and 2010s. This flexibility means the series could modify or expand existing lore to suit its worldbuilding goals, especially in establishing the Stephen King shared universe setup. However, the integration of characters and stories hinges largely on rights and licensing agreements, which could complicate some crossover opportunities.
Legal and Rights Challenges Shape the Scope of Crossovers
Stephen King’s work has been adapted by numerous studios over decades, creating a patchwork of rights that complicate seamless crossover potential. For example, while Jake Epping’s story from 11/22/63 fits narratively with It: Welcome to Derry, the rights for that Hulu miniseries adaptation may restrict HBO from including the character. Similarly, other King adaptations owned by different entities could limit how closely these stories intertwine on screen.
The availability of rights will significantly influence the creative direction of this shared universe. Notably, Mike Flanagan, the showrunner of It: Welcome to Derry, is actively pursuing a television adaptation of The Dark Tower at HBO after Amazon passed on the project. If secured, this partnership could facilitate the inclusion of major Dark Tower characters like Roland Deschain and Randall Flagg in the series, deepening the ties between King’s works within this developing universe.
Extent of Crossover References Will Reveal the Series’ Ambitions
The confirmed appearance of characters beyond the original It narrative, including Dick Hallorann from The Shining, points toward significant crossover ambitions for It: Welcome to Derry. The question remains whether the series aims to build a fully interconnected universe akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where each story impacts and builds upon the others, or if it will primarily offer occasional Easter eggs and nods to King’s wider mythology without deeper narrative consequences.
Viewers and King aficionados alike will learn more once the series debuts on HBO, shedding light on how WWE’s Stephen King shared universe setup will unfold and the degree of interconnectivity they can expect across King’s vast multiverse.
