‘The Shining’ and ‘IT’ Collide in New Stephen King Crossover Series from HBO

HBO is getting ready to dive deeper into the world of Stephen King with its upcoming horror series It: Welcome to Derry. This show will serve as a prequel to the hit IT movies and will tell the story of Pennywise before the events of the 2017 and 2019 films. It’s also bringing in a surprising and familiar face from another King classic.

At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was confirmed that Dick Hallorann, a beloved character from The Shining, will appear in the new series.

The announcement came straight from Andy and Barbara Muschietti during the Welcome to Derry panel, as reported by Screen Rant. Hallorann will be played by Chris Chalk and will have a much bigger role than his brief appearance in the original IT novel.

In King’s book, Hallorann shows up in a short scene set at The Black Spot, a military bar that gets destroyed in a racially-motivated arson attack. Since the first season of the show will focus on that exact tragedy, it makes perfect sense to bring him in. Andy Muschietti shared that “he’s going to have a much larger role in the show.”

Fans of King’s books are especially excited. Hallorann has appeared in several of King’s stories and is often remembered for his kind heart and strong sense of morality. He’s known for putting others before himself, and that’s earned him a special place in the hearts of readers and moviegoers alike.

This crossover is a big deal for fans of the Stephen King universe. It shows that HBO and the creators are really embracing the idea of a connected world, something that’s been hinted at in King’s work for years. Bringing in a character from The Shining into an IT prequel isn’t just cool fan service, it’s also a smart way to build a bigger, more connected story.

The show is being developed by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs, the same team behind the IT films. It stars Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, and of course, Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise. Welcome to Derry will hit HBO in October 2025 and is expected to have nine episodes.

With a cast that includes both new characters and classic ones like Hallorann, It: Welcome to Derry is shaping up to be more than just a creepy prequel. It could be the start of something much bigger in the Stephen King universe.

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