Summary
It: Welcome to Derrywill expand the world of Andy Muschietti’sItmovies, but it can do a lot more than that and be what another Stephen King show tried but failed to be. The works of Stephen King are still a source of inspiration for many artists, and they continue to be adapted to other media. The universe of Stephen King is so rich that there’s a lot of material to choose from, and, in many cases, there’s the freedom to expand some stories beyond what the King of Horror came up with.
One of King’s most popular works is the 1986 novelIt, which introduced readers to an evil, shapeshifting creature whose preferred shape is the terrifying clown Pennywise.Ithad its first big screen adaptation in Muschietti’s duology, released in 2017 and 2019, which made some changes to the novel but kept its essence and what makes the story so terrifying. The world of this adaptation ofItis now expanding with the TV seriesWelcome to Derry, which has the potential to do what another King TV show tried but failed to do.
HBO’s Welcome To Derry Teaser Gives Me Faith The Prequel Will Do Stephen King’s Work Justice
Welcome to Derry may be departing from the source material of Stephen King’s It, but some teaser footage clearly promises big things for the prequel.
Welcome To Derry Can Expand Stephen King’s Stories Like Castle Rock Tried To Do
Welcome To Derry Has A Lot Of Potential
Itisn’t the only King story set in Derry, soWelcome to Derrycould do what the TV seriesCastle Rockfailed to do.
Welcome to Derryis a prequel to Muschietti’sItandIt Chapter Two, so it will cover the events that lead to the movies. Among the changes Muschietti’s movies made to King’s novel was its time settings, and instead of being set in 1957-1958 and 1984-1985, they took the audience to 1988-1989 and 2016. AsIt wakes up every 27 yearsto feed,Welcome to Derryis set in the early 1960s, exploring the creature’s actions before it killed Georgie Denbrough and targeted the Losers Club.
Castle Rockdidn’t adapt a specific King story, and instead, it took characters from King’s universe and created others.
Itisn’t the only King story set in Derry, soWelcome to Derrycould do what the TV seriesCastle Rockfailed to do. Created by Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason,Castle Rocktook viewers to the title town, which is home to many of King’s stories.Castle Rockdidn’t adapt a specific King story, and instead, it took characters from King’s universe and created others with interesting links to the town and some of King’s characters (such as Jane Levy’s Diane “Jackie” Torrance, the niece ofThe Shining’s Jack Torrance).
Welcome to Derrycan do what Castle Rock couldn’t,and bring to life other stories and characters from Derry.
AlthoughCastle Rockwas praised by critics for its tone, stories, and how it linked different characters with well-known stories by Stephen King, it only lasted two seasons.Castle Rockhad a lot of potential, but its early cancelation didn’t let it peak.Welcome to Derrycan do whatCastle Rockcouldn’t and bring to life other stories and characters from Derry and link them to It and its horrifying actions.
Why Castle Rock Ended After Season 2
Castle Rock Didn’t Stick Around For Long
Castle Rockended after season 2 because Hulu had planned it that way.
Castle Rock’s end after just two seasons came as a surprise given its great reviews, quality, and potential.Castle Rockseason 1 told the story of The Kid (Bill Skarsgård), a man found in an abandoned subterranean prison cell underneath Shawshank Prison, and Henry Deaver (André Holland), a criminal attorney who is revealed to have a shocking connection to the Kid. Season 2 took inspiration fromMiseryandSalem’s Lot,following a young Annie Wilkes (Lizzy Caplan).
Despite still having a lot more to offer and more stories to tell,Castle Rockended after season 2because Hulu had planned it that way. Hulu’s decision to endCastle Rockafter just two seasons wasn’t based on viewership and reviews, but because, at the time,HBO Max (now simply Max) was in the making, and the company was shifting its focus to it. Despite planning to end the series after two seasons,Castle Rockleft many questions that might never be answered.
Other Stephen King Stories That Welcome To Derry Could Focus On
There’s Plenty For Welcome To Derry To Chose From The Stephen King Universe
Welcome to Derrycould come up with characters who connect to these stories, just likeCastle Rockdid.
Italready givesWelcome to Derrysome interesting stories to explore, such as some of It’s shapes from the novel that didn’t make it to the movies, and the tragedy of the Black Spot.Other King stories set in DerryareSecret Window, Secret Garden,Insomnia,Dreamcatcher, and parts ofBag of Bones, and though they’re not set in the 1960s,Welcome to Derrycould come up with characters who connect to these stories, just likeCastle Rockdid – or it could change their settings to fit the show.
10 Stephen King Book Moments The HBO Pennywise Prequel Can Reference (That The IT Movies Left Out)
The HBO series Welcome To Derry, which serves as a Pennywise prequel, could include many Stephen King book moments that didn’t occur in the IT movies.
Insomniawould be an interesting story to see inWelcome to Derry, as it has supernatural elements that could be linked to the strange events in Derry provoked by It.Bag of Bonescould also give some great material toWelcome to Derry,exploring more of the life of novelist Mike Noonan.Welcome to Derryhas a lot of potential, and, hopefully, it won’t disappoint in its expansion of the universe of Stephen King.
It: Welcome to Derry
IT: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the IT films, exploring the origins of Pennywise the Clown. Set in the 1960s, this installment dives into the backdrop of Derry, unveiling the dark history and circumstances surrounding the infamous creature.
