It: Welcome to Derry creator Andy Muschetti teased the ways the upcoming TV show will tie into other Stephen King works.
This TV series serves as a prequel to It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019), both of which were directed by Andy Muschetti. Based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel, these movies starred Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. Set in 1962, this HBO series follows the aftermath of a boy who went missing in the town of Derry, Maine, and the evil that lurks within.
Will there be Stephen King easter eggs in It: Welcome to Derry?
At New York Comic Con, the stars and creatives behind the upcoming series took the stage to discuss the show. ComingSoon spoke with Muschetti at NYCC, where he provided additional details about its ties to King’s “The Dark Tower” series.
“It is a very mundane perspective because it’s all from the perspectives of our Losers,” says Muschetti. “They talk about the Turtle, they talk about Maturin, they talk about the Macroverse—all of these are concepts of the other side. So we’ll open a little window over the course of the three seasons; we’re gonna show more of the mythology that supports the story of It.”
“It’s the same universe as The Dark Tower,” he adds. “The Turtle is one of the guardians of The Dark Tower…there will be a little more clarity about the mythology, reveals, and a lot of easter eggs people will pick up.”
Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted the “Shawshank State Prison” written on the side of a prison bus, which of course, references King’s celebrated prison novel The Shawshank Redemption.
Furthermore, the character of Dick Hallorann will appear in the show. Hallorann is best known for his appearances in The Shining and Doctor Sleep, but King’s devoted fans may know that the character also appeared in the It novel. He is depicted as one of the founders of The Black Spot, a bar in Derry which caters towards African-American soldiers which was later burned down by white supremacists.
It: Welcome to Derry premieres on HBO Max on October 26, with new episodes releasing every Sunday.
