🔗 Share this article You Should Watch One Classic Stephen King Movie Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment HBO's Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to the author's extensive library of stories. Beyond the obvious ties to the original story, the show includes an explicit link to King's famous novel through the appearance of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story unfolds, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another beloved tale from King that deserves a revisit. The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption Although The Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, particularly in contrast with much of the author's additional work, it remains a haunting tale about an innocently imprisoned man sentenced to live the rest of his life in a notorious penitentiary. It is that very penitentiary that becomes central in this context, since Shawshank State Prison holds considerable history across King's stories — a pattern that continues within 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 narratives, we learn regarding the awful life inside the state penitentiary plus several of the inmates there, including the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's initial victims, who had been found guilty of armed robbery. So far, however, the majority we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been via the eyes of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. The character Andy ends up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, then finds himself beaten and abused by other prisoners, while taken advantage of by the authority figures for his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to dig his way out from Shawshank, before crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty. The Prison's Role in It: Welcome to Derry In relation to the series, audiences initially discovered about the prison's involvement via an initial preview for the show, in which a correctional transport appeared bearing the title displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn who is likely headed to the prison. Although we know he did not commit the child deaths initially, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. The preview for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," reveals an officer informing Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?" The Consequences for Hank and Ronnie Considering that the real murderer in the town is a primordial entity from another world preying on and killing children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he ends up in the prison and viewers don't follow him inside, understanding what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would not be enjoyable. Crucially, however, this situation could threaten Ronnie. Hank is her protector. Horrible things are happening around Derry which no one, child or adult, comprehends and she just has her new group of friends to rely on. She's going to need her dad as the story progresses, however should the prison system has any say, she could be without help. A single fact seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to dig to freedom. It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.