The prequel series It: Welcome to Derry premiered recently, delivering chilling moments and rich references to the Stephen King universe that have clearly influenced its cast members. Fans of Stephen King favorite books will find it fascinating that the show’s performers opened up about the novels and film adaptations that have impacted them personally during a discussion with Screen Rant.
While Stephen King’s It frequently appeared as a favorite, other notable mentions included Cujo and Carrie, reflecting the broad range of King’s storytelling that resonates with the cast.
Taylour Paige Highlights The Shining’s Impact and Legacy
Taylour Paige, portraying Charlotte Hanlon, selected The Shining as her top King adaptation, praising its outstanding acting and direction despite the controversy surrounding the film’s production. She expressed admiration for Shelley Duvall and Jack Nicholson’s performances and acknowledged Stanley Kubrick’s significant influence.
“Mine is The Shining, my answer for both. It’s just incredibly acted and directed, though knowing the backstory, it’s a little sad what my girl Shelley went through. Shelley Duvall’s one of my favorite actresses of all time, Jack Nicholson, it’s just an incredible piece of cinema. And though Kubrick had his issues, we were really lucky to have Stanley Kubrick. He changed the landscape of filmmaking, and also, I’d like to say, did Stephen proud.” – Taylour Paige, Actress
Jovan Adepo Recounts First Encounter with Stephen King Through Tim Curry’s It
Playing Leroy Hanlon, Jovan Adepo recalled his introduction to Stephen King’s work through the 1990 It miniseries featuring Tim Curry. He admitted the miniseries frightened him as a child, evoking vivid memories of fear connected to sewers and strange sounds.
“I would say the It miniseries with Tim Curry. That was probably my first introduction to Stephen King as a child. I did not like It, obviously. I was terrified. I just remembered being afraid of sewers and hearing voices in the drain.” – Jovan Adepo, Actor
James Remar Reflects on Early Experiences with The Shining and Other King Classics
James Remar, who plays General Shaw, identified The Shining as his initial exposure to King’s work. This led him to read several key novels, including The Stand and It. He noted the theme of inanimate objects coming to life through malevolent forces feeding on fear, which captivated him throughout King’s writing.
“I guess my first exposure was The Shining the movie when it came out, and I decided to start reading his books. I read The Stand pretty early, and I read It pretty early, but I read The Shining… and it really blew my mind. Everything that is in that book moves forward, and you can see it in other books, an inanimate object coming to life because of some malevolent force behind it that feeds on fear.” – James Remar, Actor
Kimberly Guerrero Reflects on Carrie and Stand by Me as Defining Works
Kimberly Guerrero, who plays Rose, shared her first experience with Stephen King through the novel and film adaptation of Carrie. She described her initial confusion during the story’s climax but expressed a lasting fondness for Stand by Me, relating deeply to its themes of friendship and youth linked to memories of railroad tracks from her own childhood.
“My first exposure was Carrie, reading it and then, of course, seeing the film. I just remember [wondering], ‘What’s happening? I don’t understand what’s happening right now,’ at the climax of Carrie. I would say my favorite still is probably Stand by Me. There’s something about being on the bike and being with your friends… I was always at the railroad tracks, so I kind of felt like, ‘Me too. This is my story. I understand this story.'” – Kimberly Guerrero, Actress
Stephen Rider Picks Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile as Timeless Films
Stephen Rider, cast as Hank Grogan, named The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile as two of his favorite films adapted from Stephen King’s writings. He highlighted the emotional power of the stories, particularly Coffey’s character in The Green Mile, emphasizing King’s extensive catalog of classics.
“Shawshank Redemption, for me. That and Green Mile, for me, are two of my favorite films, period. I mean Coffey broke my heart in Green Mile. And Shawshank, come on. The challenge is, that’s an unfair question because he has a lot of classics.” – Stephen Rider, Actor
Chris Chalk Remembers Reading The Shining Early and Watching Numerous Adaptations
Chris Chalk, who plays Dick Hallorann, recalled a unique childhood filled with Stephen King’s works. He first read The Shining, then It, followed by The Stand, and has since seen almost every adaptation of King’s stories, appreciating their many manifestations on screen.
“My first was reading The Shining, because I had a weird childhood where I read stuff like that as a kid, and then the second was reading It, and then it’s just seeing all these manifestations of things. I read The Stand, and then I think I’ve watched every manifestation of his work.” – Chris Chalk, Actor
Release of Second Episode Aligns With Halloween Festivities
Adding to the momentum, HBO Max released the second episode of It: Welcome to Derry on October 31st at 3:00 a.m. ET, timed perfectly with Halloween. The episode will also air on HBO’s regular primetime schedule on November 2, offering viewers another chance to engage with the eerie atmosphere that defines the series.
