The trailer for IT: Welcome to Derry episode 3 unveils a significant link to one of Stephen King's most beloved adaptations of his work. The series is set 27 years before the original IT movie, exploring Derry's dark past.
In addition to ties with the IT films and novel, the show introduces Dick Halloran (Chris Chalk), a character from The Shining. The prequel is filled with numerous references to King's universe.
The episode 3 trailer features Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), who after being arrested, is asked:
“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 movie.
Halloran is taken airborne to aid the military in locating a weapon, but he is plagued by a carnival barker’s voice repeatedly saying,
“Step right up.”
This ominous phrase echoes throughout the trailer, building suspense.
Author's summary: The episode 3 trailer deepens the connection between IT: Welcome to Derry and Stephen King's broader universe, blending familiar characters and eerie references to classic King stories.