Mind Blown, Mate: *Welcome to Derry* Just Glitched Us Right Into the Stephen King Multiverse
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
This is no ordinary prequel, mate; *IT: Welcome to Derry* is smashing open the Stephen King Multiverse, revealing cosmic origins, major character crossovers from *The Shining*, and a whole host of lore drops that connect King's terrifying tales like never before. It's like finding a secret server full of interconnected horror campaigns, with some absolute legendary boss fights on the horizon.
Alright, mate, gather 'round! You ever had one of those moments where you thought a game was a solo campaign, then suddenly, *BAM!* you find out it's actually just one server in a sprawling, terrifyingly interconnected MMO?
That's kinda what the Stephen King-verse feels like sometimes, eh? We've all been thinking his stories are just standalone terror-fests, but turns out, they're more like wildly diverse zones in one gigantic, horror-infused reality. And *IT: Welcome to Derry*?
Well, that's just dropped like a major content patch, pulling back the curtain on some serious lore connections. (Quick heads-up, though: we're diving into spoilers for the first couple of episodes, so if you're trying to avoid 'em, maybe go grind some XP elsewhere and come back later, yeah? You've been warned by your friendly neighborhood digital wizard!)
<br/><br/>So, *Welcome to Derry* sets its creepy stage a good 27 years before the Losers Club ever had their first proper boss battle with Pennywise back in the 2017 flick. And guess what? Bill Skarsgård is back in the clown shoes, even if he's more of a lurking menace in the pilot.
But here's the kicker, and this is where the cosmic lore really gets spicy: Pennywise, or 'It' as it's truly known, isn't just some local monster. Nah, mate, this thing's an *alien entity* from a void outside the universe – basically a super-ancient, super-powered psychic vampire that crash-landed like a rogue asteroid. It feasts on fear, hibernates for 27 years (a cooldown timer for its ultimate ability, perhaps?)
, and then starts the cycle all over again. And get this: *The Dark Tower* books, King's magnum opus, tells us these monsters, including It, are remnants of a mystical energy called the Prim. So, Pennywise isn't unique; it's part of a whole family of reality-bending NPCs, some of whom even feed on laughter instead of fear.
Wild, right?<br/><br/>Now, while we're not seeing many familiar faces *from* the future in this prequel, we *are* getting a crucial origin story for a very important family: the Hanlons. We meet Jovan Adepo's Leroy Hanlon, who's none other than Mike Hanlon's grandad from the *It* films.
Leroy, a decorated Air Force major, gets pulled into a top-secret program in Derry in '62, and fair dinkum, things go sideways fast. General Shaw (played by the legendary James Remar) isn't just doing some boring military stuff; he's actively trying to *weaponize It*. I mean, seriously?
Trying to turn the ultimate fear-monger into a super-weapon? That's either the most audacious character build ever or a spectacularly bad idea for a side quest. Leroy's starting to see the dark underbelly of Derry, and let's just say his wife Charlotte and son Will aren't exactly thrilled with their new spawn point.
<br/><br/>But hold onto your hats, because this is where the multiverse truly starts to bleed together! We've got *The Shining* crossover event hitting Derry! Chris Chalk is playing a younger Dick Hallorann, yep, *that* Dick Hallorann, the head chef from the Overlook Hotel who had 'the shine.'
Before he was warning Danny Torrance about spooky hotel guests, he was apparently chilling (or not chilling, given Derry) at the same Air Force base as Leroy. And he's not just there for a cameo; Dick's using his psychic abilities to help the Air Force *dig up and harness the slumbering It*. Talk about a high-stakes dungeon crawl!
What's even wilder is that Dick senses something special about Leroy – our boy got a bullet to the brain that apparently robbed him of the ability to feel fear. Can you imagine? The one dude who might actually be immune to Pennywise's main attack stat!
This essentially makes Leroy a unique character with a special perk, and Dick, with his shine, is basically the team's primary sensor, picking up on all the supernatural shenanigans. I reckon he's gonna be vital in this whole chaotic scenario, perhaps even drawing It's attention, like a high-level magic user.<br/><br/>And of course, it wouldn't be a Stephen King property without a truckload of hidden achievements and lore drops, would it?
Episode two gives us a peek at those iconic Calumet Baking Powder cans from *The Shining*, lurking in a grocery store like a silent nod to deep-cut fan theories about American history and ancient evils. Then there's Juniper Hill Asylum, a classic King landmark popping up as a holding cell for poor Susie, a place that's appeared in everything from *Insomnia* to *Needful Things*. If mental institutions were raid dungeons, Juniper Hill would be a legendary one.
<br/><br/>But perhaps my favorite little nugget so far? A subtle charm on Susie’s bracelet: a turtle. Now, if you know your King-verse, you'll know that the Turtle (Maturin, for the deep lore geeks) is It’s cosmic opposite, a benevolent force and one of the guardians of 'The Beams' in *The Dark Tower*.
It’s a tiny reminder that even in Derry's chaos, there might be other, less sinister, forces at play – a bit like finding a health potion amidst a boss fight.<br/><br/>And for another *IT: Chapter Two* throwback, we hit up the Second Hand Rose thrift shop. Remember that place?
Where Bill Denbrough bought his beloved Schwinn? Well, it's there in '62 too, and Leroy snags a telescope for his son. The 'rose' itself is another huge symbol in *The Dark Tower*, representing goodness and purity.
But honestly, the vibe of that shop in *Welcome to Derry* gives me serious *Needful Things* shivers, which, if you've read it, you know is a shop selling more than just second-hand goods, eh? More like second-hand souls.<br/><br/>Bloody hell, this series is already shaping up to be a wild ride through King's intricate web of terror.
It’s not just a prequel; it's a lore expansion pack, weaving together threads from across the entire multiverse. Can’t wait to see what other digital tea leaves these wizards at HBO Max have brewed up for us in future episodes.<br/><br/>This mind-bending dive into Derry’s past and the King Multiverse was originally pondered by Jesse Schedeen over at IGN South Africa, and fair play to him for spotting these connections early on.
It's a proper deep dive, mate.
Tags: Stephen King, Horror Lore, Multiverse, Prequel Analysis, Easter Eggs
Original article: IGN South Africa