Warning: This article contains spoilers for IT: Welcome to Derry Episodes 1 and 2!
Stephen King fans know the author’s tales of small-town terror and tortured souls aren’t standalone stories—they’re part of a larger storytelling multiverse where crossovers happen frequently. IT: Welcome to Derry embraces this interconnected universe enthusiastically, serving not just as a prequel to the It films but as a treasure trove of references to other King works.
With the first two episodes now streaming on HBO Max, here’s a breakdown of the key Stephen King easter eggs and multiverse connections that make Welcome to Derry essential viewing for King devotees.
Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise Returns
Bill Skarsgård is the only confirmed returning actor from the It films, once again playing the demonic, shapeshifting entity known as It—whose favorite form is Pennywise the Dancing Clown. While we don’t actually see Skarsgård in Episode 1, Pennywise’s nefarious influence permeates every frame. The pilot’s clearest takeaway? Derry was cursed long before the Losers Club ever faced the dancing clown.
But what exactly is Pennywise? King’s novel establishes that It is an alien entity created in the void outside the universe, eventually crashing to Earth via asteroid millions of years ago. It took up residence in what would become Derry, Maine, where it’s followed a pattern ever since: emerge for a year or two to feast on victims’ fear (it’s essentially a psychic vampire), then hibernate for 27 years before repeating the cycle. It targets children because their fears are more primal and easier to exploit.
Pennywise is terrifying, but not unique. King’s Dark Tower novels establish that the multiverse was once bathed in mystical energy called the Prim. When the Prim receded, it left behind numerous supernatural creatures embedded in the worlds of creation—Pennywise is just one of many such monsters. The Dark Tower books even introduce a cousin of sorts: a psychic vampire who feeds on laughter rather than fear.
The Hanlon Family Legacy
Welcome to Derry may not feature many returning characters, but it introduces a family crucial to the films’ timeline. Episode 1 features Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon—grandfather of Mike Hanlon, who was played as a child by Chosen Jacobs and as an adult by Isaiah Mustafa in the films.
The series shows how the Hanlons first settled in Derry in 1962. Leroy is a decorated Air Force major recruited by General Shaw (James Remar) for a top-secret program. Even early on, Leroy becomes exposed to the darkness beneath Derry’s idyllic facade and the racism still rampant in military ranks.
Episode 2 reveals Shaw is working to harness a weapon that can instill absolute fear in America’s enemies—apparently, Shaw wants to weaponize It itself. The episode also introduces Taylour Paige as Leroy’s wife Charlotte and Blake Cameron James as his son Will, neither particularly enamored with their new home. But however bad things get, this family won’t be driven from Derry.
Dick Hallorann from The Shining
In easily the most significant King easter egg so far, Welcome to Derry includes a major character from The Shining: Dick Hallorann, played by Chris Chalk.
Fans of The Shining and its sequel Doctor Sleep remember Dick as the Overlook Hotel’s head chef in Colorado. Because he possesses psychic aptitude known as “the shine,” Dick is sensitive to the ghosts haunting the Overlook’s halls. He becomes concerned when he senses young Danny Torrance shines especially brightly, making him a target for those ghosts. Eventually, Dick braves harsh Colorado winter to rescue Danny and his mother from the hotel’s wrath.
Welcome to Derry takes place nearly two decades before The Shining. At this stage, Dick serves on the same Derry air force base as Leroy. We only glimpse Dick briefly in Episode 1, but he seems intently interested in Leroy, as if sensing something supernaturally amiss.
Episode 2 provides crucial context: Dick is using his psychic abilities to help the Air Force dig up and harness the slumbering It. He senses Leroy is special—a bullet to Leroy’s brain has robbed him of the ability to feel fear, potentially making him the only person capable of standing up to It.
Dick will likely play a central role battling It this season. Just as at the Overlook, his powers make him more aware than most adults of lurking danger. It may even target Dick specifically, hoping to draw sustenance from his psychic abilities, much like the vampires in Doctor Sleep.
Juniper Hill Asylum
Episode 2 introduces another iconic King landmark: Juniper Hill Asylum. We learn Susie (Matilda Legault) was previously committed there after her father’s death, and she’s forced to return after suffering another of It’s terrifying hallucinations.
Juniper Hill appears in the original IT novel and numerous other King works, from Insomnia to Needful Things to The Dark Half. It’s exactly as twisted as you’d expect from a mental institution in Stephen King’s multiverse.
The Turtle’s Significance
Welcome to Derry‘s first episode includes a subtle but important easter egg: a turtle charm on Susie’s bracelet.
The Turtle has deep significance in King lore. This benevolent entity was created at the same time as It—the Turtle is It’s polar opposite and a sign of strength to the Losers Club members. The Turtle is also one of 12 animals featured in the Dark Tower books who guard “The Beams”—invisible energy forces leading directly to the titular tower at the center of existence.
Expect multiple turtle references throughout the series, reminders that forces beyond It/Pennywise are at work in Derry—and not all are sinister.
The Second Hand Rose
Episode 2 establishes a key throwback to 2019’s IT: Chapter Two with the Second Hand Rose thrift shop scene. In the movie, Stephen King himself runs that shop, and it’s where Bill Denbrough buys his beloved Schwinn bicycle. Back in 1962, it’s where Leroy purchases a telescope for his son Will. (King’s character even cameos as a younger man here.)
Like the turtle, the rose carries special significance in King’s work, tying back to the Dark Tower books and protagonist Roland Deschain. The rose symbolizes goodness and purity, though the shop gives off slightly creepy vibes in this series—reminiscent of Needful Things and its infamous shop of horrors.
Other King Easter Eggs
Calumet Baking Powder: Episode 2 includes stacks of Calumet Baking Powder cans displaying the iconic Indian chief logo—also seen in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining film adaptation. The cans’ exact significance has been debated for years, with some arguing Kubrick included subtle commentary about American imperialism and Native American genocide. The Indian chief image may also speak to the ancient history of supernatural terrors in this world.
Shawshank Prison Bus: An earlier trailer included a shot of a Shawshank Prison bus, referencing King’s famous novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
Why the Multiverse Matters
For casual viewers, Welcome to Derry works perfectly well as a standalone prequel exploring Pennywise’s earlier reign of terror. But for King devotees, these interconnected references add rich layers of meaning and context.
Dick Hallorann’s presence connects Derry’s horrors to the Overlook Hotel’s malevolence, suggesting these supernatural threats are related—perhaps even coordinated. The Turtle and rose imagery invoke the Dark Tower mythology, positioning It within a cosmic struggle between good and evil spanning multiple universes.
The Hanlon family’s multi-generational presence in Derry establishes that some families are drawn to—or trapped by—these supernatural nexus points. Juniper Hill Asylum’s appearance suggests Derry’s darkness extends beyond It, permeating the town’s institutions and infrastructure.
What’s Next?
As Welcome to Derry continues releasing episodes, we’ll likely discover additional King universe connections. Will we see references to other Castle Rock stories? Will the Dark Tower mythology become more explicit? Might other King characters make surprise appearances?
For now, the series has established itself as more than just an It prequel—it’s a genuine exploration of Stephen King’s interconnected universe, rewarding longtime fans while introducing newcomers to the rich mythology underlying these tales of terror.
IT: Welcome to Derry streams new episodes Thursdays on HBO Max, with the season continuing through November.
This article will be updated as new episodes reveal additional Stephen King multiverse connections.
