The upcoming release ofIT: Welcome to Derryhas fans clamoring with excitement. Following the success ofITandIT: Chapter Two, director Andy Muschietti will bring audiences back to Derry to explore the backstory of Pennywise. Not only will Muschietti return to the director’s chair, but Bill Skarsgård will be reprising his role as the infamous clown. Many ofStephen King’s stories take place in Maine, and fans noticed a particular Easter egg in the second teaser trailer forIT: Welcome to Derrythat could intertwine two of the writer’s best-known intellectual properties that take place in the same state.
“Welcome to Shawshank”
If you pay close attention to the second teaser trailer, you might notice a bus with “Shawshank State Prison” written on the side. If you’re curious, yes, this isa direct reference toThe Shawshank Redemption. The critically acclaimed film, which stars Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, is based on a 1982 novella by King,Rita Hayworth, and The Shawshank Redemption.Stephen King has become so synonymous with horror that some readers forget that he’s also been prolific in other genres.
Some wonder if there’s any chance for acrossover betweenITand the characters incarcerated in Shawshank State Prison. There’s a very good chance.IT: Welcome to Derrytakes place in 1962. The setting will allow the series to touch on some aspects of King’s original book, such as the burning of a prominent African-American social club called the Black Spot. The series will be able to address the civil rights movement and other socially relevant topics related to the period.
Andy Dufresne, portrayed by Tim Robbins inThe Shawshank Redemption, began his prison sentence in 1947. Dufresne served 19 years of his sentence before escaping in 1966.Fans of the film will remember that several convicts were used in work programs all over Maine, so there’s a good chance that Dufresne might show up in or around Derry.
A New England State of Mind
Because of the author’s extensive body of work, many places in Maine serve as the backdrop for King’s stories. In fact,ITisn’t the only story of King’s to take place in Derry.DreamcatcherandInsomniaoccur in Derry, and the fictional location is mentioned inPet CemeteryandThe Running Man. One of the most notable locations King created specifically for his stories is the fictional town of Castle Rock.Cujo,Needful Things,The Dark Half, andThe Body(later adapted intoStand By Me) are all part of King’s Castle Rock.
What does this mean forIT: Welcome to Derry? There’s certainly a chance for more Easter eggs when the show premieres on HBO Max this fall.Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemptionisn’t the only story that could serve as a potential crossover with the new series.Hearts in Atlantis, The Body,and11/22/63occur during the same period asIT: Welcome toDerry.
Whether we get cameos, crossovers, or subtle Easter eggs, we can all agree on one thing–we’re all excited about returning to Derry.Keep your eyes peeled for more surprises whenIT: Welcome to Derrydebuts in a few short months.
Where Can I Watch ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’?
IT: Welcome to Derrypremieres this fall on HBO Max. Be sure to keep an eye out for the bus from Shawshank State Prison…
It: Welcome to Derry
