Jordan Adepo, star of the new Stephen King It spin-off series It: Welcome to Derry, shared how his role in this horror project contrasts sharply with his character from the sci-fi show 3 Body Problem. At New York Comic Con (NYCC), Adepo explained that the ambitious Leroy Hanlon from Welcome to Derry is nearly the opposite of his laid-back scientist, Dr. Saul Durand, from season one of 3 Body Problem.
The Context Behind Leroy Hanlon’s Story in It: Welcome to Derry
Set in 1962 during the height of the Cold War, Welcome to Derry follows Major Leroy Hanlon (Adepo), his wife Charlotte (played by Taylour Paige), and their young son Will (Blake Cameron James), who are stationed in Maine. The series highlights the exceptional nature required for a Black man to serve in the U.S. Air Force at that time. Adepo noted that Leroy is a driven family man and highly focused on his career, contrasting with Saul Durand’s irresponsible behavior in 3 Body Problem, where he ignores the looming alien threat.
“Leroy’s incredibly ambitious and very driven and career-driven and family-driven, but I think Saul’s literally the exact opposite, at least from what you’ve seen from the first season,”
Adepo said during the NYCC roundtable hosted by GamesRadar+.
“It was great to get to play Leroy because I filmed Derry after I finished the first season. And so before I went back to the second season [of 3 Body Problem], which we’re doing now, I got to play Leroy.”
Personal Connection to Leroy Hanlon’s Character
Adepo also shared that playing Leroy was meaningful on a personal level because the character reminded him of his own father. This allowed Adepo to explore a more grounded and relatable figure compared to his previous work.
“It was great: a chance to play somebody that I relate to a bit more,”
the actor reflected.
“It was just a great exercise again to get to try to play someone who I imagined or relates a lot to my father, him being in the Air Force and raising me and my brother and being married to my mom, marrying her in England, and moving to the States. So it was a nice exercise to try to connect to his younger self.”
The Character’s Importance to Stephen King’s Larger Universe
Leroy Hanlon is an important figure as he is the grandfather of Mike Hanlon, a member of the Losers Club seen in the original It films. Mike Hanlon is portrayed by Chosen Jacobs in the first movie and Isaiah Mustafa in its sequel. The storyline of Welcome to Derry draws from Mike’s extensive research into the town’s dark history, delving into the origins of Pennywise the Dancing Clown and his human disguise, Bob Gray.
During the NYCC panel, attendees witnessed two intense scenes where Leroy confronts Pennywise in the sewers of Derry, setting a chilling tone for the series. The encounters unfold in the ominous style fans expect, emphasizing the horror’s roots in Stephen King’s mythology.
Release Information and What Fans Can Expect Next
It: Welcome to Derry is scheduled for release on HBO Max on October 26. The show promises to expand the story of Derry’s sinister past while providing fresh perspectives on familiar characters. Fans awaiting this spin-off can look forward to a blend of horror and complex character development woven into Stephen King’s expansive universe.
