The Best WELCOME TO DERRY Stephen King Easter Eggs and Pop Culture References

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Get ready to return to Derry! The new IT prequel is finally here, and it’s a thrilling, fast-paced story clocking in at just under an hour. We’re introduced to a group of kids in 1962 Derry, Maine, and things quickly take a dark turn for some of them. This installment doesn’t hold back on the scares, delivering genuinely frightening moments alongside plenty of hidden references – Easter eggs connecting to the wider Stephen King world and nods to the pop culture of the time. Here are some of the best ones!

Meet the Hanlons and a Young Dick Hallorann 

Many characters in the show come from the original book. Importantly, the series focuses on three adult characters: Leroy and Charlotte Hanlon, the parents of Will Hanlon, who in turn is the father of Mike Hanlon, a central character in IT. Because Mike needs a father, Will is likely safe. We briefly saw an older Leroy Hanlon in the 2017 IT movie as Mike’s grandfather. However, Charlotte’s fate is less certain – she might not make it through this encounter with Pennywise, despite fans hoping she will.

I’m really excited about seeing Dick Hallorann in the upcoming Welcome to Derry series! He’s a character so many of us already know and love, whether you’re a huge Stephen King fan or just familiar with The Shining. Of course, we remember him as the man with ‘the shine’ from both the book and movie, and then again in Doctor Sleep. While the film version of The Shining had a tragic end for him, this series is going to show us his life when he was young and serving in the military. Knowing what he can do, I have a feeling Pennywise is going to really target that special ability of his – it’s going to be fascinating to watch!

The Music Man’s Troubling Song 

Okay, so the prequel film, Welcome to Derry, immediately grabbed me with its opening scene. We’re right there with a young kid, Matty, sneaking into a showing of the classic The Music Man – remember when you could do that? The movie’s playing the iconic “Ya Got Trouble” number, and it’s a brilliant touch. It’s not just a nostalgic nod; the song perfectly foreshadows the trouble that’s been plaguing Derry for generations, with this thing that feeds on children’s fears. It’s a really clever Easter egg and a fantastic way to set the stage for the horror to come.

It’s worth noting that the movie The Music Man came out in June 1962, but the episode says the character has been missing since January of that same year. We’ll try not to get too caught up in these minor details, though.

Paul Bunyan’s Connection to IT

While walking along a snow-covered road, Matty passes a billboard featuring Paul Bunyan, a legendary figure said to have originated in Derry. Interestingly, in the real world, a statue of Paul Bunyan stands in Bangor, Maine – the city that Stephen King used as the inspiration for Derry after living there. King often drew inspiration from places around him, and this statue is one example. In the 2019 film IT: Chapter Two, the Paul Bunyan statue becomes possessed by Pennywise, creating a truly terrifying scene.

Bert the Turtle and Lilly’s Turtle Charm’s Connection to Maturin

Lilly was walking down the hallway with her best friend when she saw a student dressed as a turtle, demonstrating a safety drill. The student was acting out a scene from “Duck and Cover,” a 1952 film teaching kids what to do in case of a nuclear attack. Given it was the Cold War, this kind of safety training was common in schools at the time.

The show includes subtle references to Maturin, a giant turtle who protects the hero in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series – perhaps like Lily’s turtle bracelet. Maturin is essentially the opposite of the evil clown Pennywise, and actually scares him. This connection might explain why Lily survived the terrifying encounter at the theater.

Phil’s Nerdy Wall 

We’re inside the room of Phil, a young man fascinated by conspiracy theories and science fiction. Movie posters for classic films like Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956) decorate his walls. Creature From the Black Lagoon features scientists investigating a mysterious creature, mirroring the situation in Derry where both the military and Pennywise are present. It’s possible soldiers investigating strange occurrences will stumble upon more than they expect. Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, an alien invasion story, feels connected to Pennywise’s background as a being that came to Earth, and we’ll likely learn more about that origin soon.

Teddy’s DC Comics Nod to Pennywise

As a total cinema devotee, I loved spotting the little details in the series! They showed young Teddy Uris – Stanley Uris’ uncle, if you remember – completely absorbed in comic books. Specifically, he was reading The Flash #123 from 1961 and Detective Comics #298. It struck me as a really neat nod to the director, Andy Muschietti’s, previous film, The Flash from 2023, which, of course, had both Flash and Batman in it. It’s those kinds of connections that make being a fan so rewarding!

That Flash comic, “The Flash of Two Worlds,” actually started the idea of the DC Multiverse. And a Batman story featured a new Clayface, a villain who could change his shape – similar to Pennywise. Both alternate universes and villains who can shapeshift remind us a lot of Pennywise.

Welcome to Famous Downtown Derry Locations 

The movie briefly shows the main street of Derry, and a few businesses are visible. One is Bangor Chew, a tobacco shop named after the city of Bangor. Another is Jade Orient Chop Suey, a Chinese restaurant that appears in Stephen King’s IT as the location for a meeting of the Losers’ Club. Machen’s sporting goods is also shown, likely a reference to author Arthur Machen, who greatly influenced King. This store also appears in one of the book’s side stories, serving as another hidden detail for fans of IT.

“Theme from a Summer Place”

The song from the 1959 film A Summer Place that plays when Charlotte Hanlon walks through Derry is noteworthy. It represents the typical, relaxed easy-listening music of mid-century America, but this contrasts sharply with Charlotte’s heightened awareness and intensity as she observes her surroundings.

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2025-10-27 05:04