The Stephen King universe expands with the upcoming release of the Welcome to Derry series, a prequel set to premiere on HBO on October 26, 2025. Set in 1962, this new show explores an earlier attack by the malevolent entity known as It in the town of Derry, Maine, delving into untold stories linked to the Losers Club and their families. Early reviews indicate that this series captivates audiences by deepening the mythology and emotional resonance of King’s terrifying world.
How Welcome to Derry Connects to Stephen King’s Broader Universe
Although the series is positioned as a prequel to It, Welcome to Derry integrates numerous references that resonate across Stephen King’s interconnected stories. King’s literary universe is famously intricate, with characters and events often weaving together, and this show skillfully highlights those links. One particularly praised connection features the character Dick Hallorann, known from The Shining, who appears in his role as head chef at the Overlook Hotel.
Set in the early 1960s, the series includes Hallorann (played by Chris Chalk) and establishes his ties to the Hanlon family in Derry. His inclusion not only creates a deeper bridge to The Shining but also ties into the town’s mysterious history, specifically events surrounding The Black Spot, a tragedy deeply embedded in Derry’s dark past and alluded to in the It novel. This historical tragedy acts as a backdrop for the wider horror in the storyline.
“Welcome to Derry hints at the wider King universe as well. Sometimes it’s with small winks, like a finger poking out of a drain. Sometimes it shakes you by your shoulders, like with the introduction of Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalke), the same character played with a barely cloaked anxiety by Scatman Crothers in Kubrick’s The Shining.” — Screen Rant
How the show ultimately integrates Hallorann’s storyline alongside The Black Spot and The Shining remains a compelling question that invites viewers to watch closely as it unfolds.
An In-Depth Look at the Adult Characters in Welcome to Derry
While It traditionally centers on the young members of the Losers Club, the adults in that universe often remain oblivious to the supernatural horrors affecting their children. Welcome to Derry expands this focus to follow grown-up characters who confront very real fears beyond Pennywise, including societal issues like racism and Cold War anxieties. This approach rectifies a common critique of It: Chapter Two, where the adult Losers’ narratives received less attention and emotional weight.
The show captures these adult struggles within the volatile social and political landscape of the early 1960s, a time marked by racial tensions and the looming threat of nuclear conflict. The ominous atmosphere of Derry, shaped by these historical realities, becomes fertile ground for Pennywise and the fear it thrives on.
“IT: Welcome to Derry fixes this by allowing its adult cast to have their own goals to reach and perils to overcome. The series brilliantly taps into the anxieties of the early 1960s, reflecting the nuclear fear on the rise just before the Cuban Missile Crisis, at the climax of the Cold War. Plus, with Jim Crow laws still imposing racial segregation in the Southern states, and Northern states still learning how to handle the tension between ingrained racism and equal rights to Black people, Derry becomes a powder keg of fear and distrust, a banquet for a creature such as Pennywise.” — ComicBook
While opinions differ on the strength of the children’s storylines, the depth and tension found in the adult narratives are garnering notable acclaim. How these two storylines intertwine as Pennywise’s influence grows will be a crucial element to the series’ impact.
Standout Performances Elevate the Welcome to Derry Experience
Stephen King’s works demand actors who can convey complex emotions and the psychological torment that his stories provoke. Welcome to Derry brings in both new and familiar faces, with many early reviews highlighting the strong performances across the cast. The young characters remain key due to their roles as primary targets of It, and the actors portraying them contribute emotional intensity that anchors much of the story.
One performance receiving particular praise is that of Stack’s Lilly, portraying a young girl haunted by her father’s traumatic death while fiercely determined to protect her friends from similar pain.
“The cast’s emotional depth and depictions of fright and panic really elevate ‘It: Welcome to Derry.’ Stack’s Lilly particularly stands out as a young girl still terrorized by the traumatic loss of her father, but desperate to save her friends from experiencing similar kinds of anguish.” — Variety
Among the adult performers, Chris Chalk’s portrayal of Dick Hallorann earns significant commendation. Given Hallorann’s established significance in King’s mythology, translating that character effectively to this new context was a major challenge that Chalk appears to meet fully.
“Chalk’s performance is a fantastic vision of the character. Hallorann is smug, sweet, and too cool for school, but his wide, white eyes straining out of his skull let you know he’s seen some things people shouldn’t.” — Screen Rant
Expanding the Lore of It Through Welcome to Derry
The original novel and film adaptations of It introduce audiences to the horror of Derry and the cyclical terror of Pennywise, yet they leave many questions about the creature’s origins unanswered. The series aims to explore this complex mythology in greater detail, revealing more about It’s nature and its connection to the town’s eerie history.
It’s true form is described as an unfathomable creature made of orange light called the Deadlights, with a spider-like shape at the limits of human comprehension. The Pennywise persona is one of many forms It assumes, and the show is expected to provide deeper insights into how this particular shape came to be.
“But Welcome to Derry manages to give Pennywise and the whole town of Derry a detailed origin story (one that will last three seasons, if all goes well), and it actually works. The lore and world-building are top-notch in this series, and they only enhance King’s now-40-year-old mythology.” — Nerdist
Plans for multiple seasons hint that the show will continue to dig further back into Derry’s past, balancing new revelations with established canon from the movies and King’s other works. This balancing act is critical to satisfy longtime fans and newcomers alike.
The Terrifying Return of Pennywise and Creative Use of Its Shape-Shifting Powers
The central lure of Welcome to Derry lies in the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, a role that defined the success of the recent films with its chilling portrayal. While his presence was initially uncertain, confirming Skarsgård’s involvement sparked excitement about whether the series could live up to or surpass previous scares.
Producers Andy and Barbara Muschietti have mentioned delaying Pennywise’s appearance to build suspense, a choice that reviewers say adds to the show’s increasing tension and creative horror elements. Rather than depending solely on Pennywise, the series uses the full range of It’s shapeshifting abilities to vary the types of terror on display throughout the episodes.
“This aspect of the character allows ‘Welcome to Derry’ to get creative, finding ways to have Pennywise wreck constant havoc without having Skarsgård appear in every episode. This might disappoint some hoping to get wall-to-wall Pennywise, but it actually enhances the show by increasing the types of scares from episode to episode.” — SlashFilm
Moreover, the show embraces the psychological horror intrinsic to King’s work by tailoring Pennywise’s attacks to reflect specific fears and traumas experienced by each child.
“As in King’s work, each of Pennywise’s attacks plays up a specific fear or trauma of each child, lending each terrifying sequence an extra element of psychological horror.” — Mashable
Additional praise mentions the series’ unexpectedly graphic and bloody scenes, which contribute to a chilling atmosphere. As Welcome to Derry continues, it promises to become a significant entry in Stephen King’s TV adaptations, expanding his mythos with intense storytelling and rich character development.
