The trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry episode 3 uncovers a major link to one of Stephen King's most beloved adaptations. The series serves as a prequel, set in Derry 27 years prior to the events of the original IT movie.
Along with connections to IT’s films and novel, the show features Dick Halloran (portrayed by Chris Chalk), a character originally from Stephen King's The Shining. The series is rich with references to King's works.
In the trailer, after Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider) is arrested, a character asks him,
"Do you know what they do to kiddy-killers in Shawshank?"This alludes to the Shawshank prison from King's 1982 novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, famously adapted into a critically acclaimed film.
Meanwhile, Halloran is taken airborne to assist in finding a weapon the military is after. He experiences disturbing visions of a carnival barker repeating,
"Step right up."This phrase becomes a haunting theme throughout the trailer.
Author’s Summary: The episode 3 trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry deepens the Stephen King universe with a nod to Shawshank Redemption and advances the mysterious plot surrounding Hank Grogan and Derry's dark past.