Make Time For This Legendary Stephen King Cinematic Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment

The series Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to the author's vast library of stories. Beyond the obvious links to It, the series also features a direct link to The Shining via the appearance of a young Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another beloved King story that deserves another look.

The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption

While The Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as horror, particularly in contrast with a lot of the author's additional writing, it remains a gripping tale about an innocently imprisoned man condemned to spend his remaining years inside a infamous penitentiary. It is this specific penitentiary that becomes important here, as the Shawshank facility possesses significant lore across King's stories — a tradition that continues in Welcome to Derry.

Some of the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these stories, we discover regarding the awful conditions at Shawshank State Prison and several of those imprisoned there, including the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's early targets, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.

So far, however, the majority we have discovered about the prison was through the eyes of Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy ends up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, then finds himself assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by those in authority figures due to his financial knowledge. He requires him 28 years to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before making his way "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty.

The Prison's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry

In relation to the series, audiences first learned about the prison's inclusion via an initial preview for the show, in which a prison bus was seen bearing the title painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn which character is likely destined for the prison.

Although we know he did not commit the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. A teaser for the next episode, "Now You See It," reveals a guard informing Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what happens to kiddie killers at that prison?"

The Consequences for the Character and His Daughter

Considering that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence appear slim. And even if he ends up to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him there, understanding what is known about that prison indicates that his time there would not be pleasant.

More importantly, though, this situation would endanger his daughter. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are occurring in the town which no one, child or adult, comprehends and she only has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she could be out of luck.

One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to tunnel his way out.

It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.