Summary
Stephen King’sItremains one of the most widely celebrated horror novels of all time, but the upcoming spin-off TV series,Welcome to Derry, has a lot to live up to. King is one of the most adapted authors of all time, with dozens of novels and short stories in his bibliography, and many of those titles being adapted for TV and movies. However, not all King stories are equal, and there have been numerous adaptations that have failed to hit the mark.
In particular, when King’s stories are taken and completely reimagined in new ways, going off book, like withThe Lawnmower Man, or the recentPet Semataryprequel,Pet Sematary: Bloodlines. For this reason, I’ve been sceptical and cautious about what to expect in the upcomingWelcome to Derryprequel series. However, movies likeThe Shining, which take the source material andcreate something new in the same spirit as the original, have been successful. And having seen thesizzle reel for Max’s upcoming releases,Welcome to Derrydoes appear to have a similar energy toIt.
Welcome To Derry: Cast, Story, Teaser Trailer & Everything We Know About The It Prequel Series
HBO’s It prequel series Welcome to Derry will finally flesh out the origins of Pennywise and show how his reign of terror impacted Derry in the 1960s.
HBO’s Welcome To Derry Looks Like A Worthy Prequel To It
Welcome To Derry Expands The It Story
Itis a classic horror story, with a terrifying villain and an ominous atmosphere that is felt throughout the entire story. This is true of both the films and the King novel from which the story is adapted. There is abalance of gore and disturbing visualsthat stem from uncanny expressions. And, beyond the frightening foe that is Pennywise the clown, the entire city of Derry has embraced a spirit of violence, anger, and hatred that leads to the locals being constantly guarded and ill at ease.
The movie captured this well with opening scenes that showcased how Derry is not a pleasant place for people to live, and can see people become the worst versions of themselves. Fortunately, from the brief snippet seen in the Max sizzle reel for upcoming releases, it looks like the show will strike the balance, and include these all important details.Welcome to Derryhas the potential to be creepy and terrifyingin a way that lives up to the original, and I’m starting to get excited about what’s in store.
It Still Feels Like The Derry From The Original Stories
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While there are obvious elements ofWelcome to Derrythat would cast doubt about how successful or faithful the series will be, the teaser does promise something that feels promising. Despite taking a new direction with the story, and working without any foundation of King’s own works,the show appears to understand the context of the original noveland do something unique inspired byIt. And it’s for this reason that, despite Stephen King not having any direct involvement in the show, I still think it could work.
From the brief snippet seen in the Max sizzle reel for upcoming releases, it looks like the show will strike the balance, and include these all important details.
The sizzle reel reveals a quiet town, a group of young friends, and contrasts this rapidly with blood-soaked locals, and a woman with a terrifying crooked smile. It may not beIt, but it’s clear what world this series takes place in. Putting all these details together and putting some writers who have clear admiration and respect for the source material, Andy and Barbara Muschietti, who worked on the movies, it’s clear thatWelcome to Derryhas a good chance of breaking new ground on an old story.
It: Welcome to Derry
Cast
IT: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to the IT films, exploring the origins of Pennywise the Clown. Set in the 1960s, this installment dives into the backdrop of Derry, unveiling the dark history and circumstances surrounding the infamous creature.
