It may have been a little uneven at times, and even managed to somewhat undercut the horror of Pennywise, but you have to give it to Season 1 of “It: Welcome to Derry” for creating an incredibly cohesive and complete backstory for Stephen King’s original “It” novel. Creators Jason Fuchs, Andy and Barbara Muschietti took the brief flashback interludes from King’s 1986 book and created a detailed prequel series that integrates elements from several other sources into the author’s work. The most obvious of these is Chris Chalk’s Dick Hallorann, who became a tool of the U.S. military as the organization searched for the great evil lurking beneath the titular city in Season 1 of “Welcome to Derry.”
Most know Hallorann from King’s 1977 novel “The Shining” and Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation, in which the psychic character is the head chef at Colorado’s Overlook Hotel and becomes a mentor to Danny Torrance, having also been blessed (and cursed) with telepathic powers. And although he was played by Scatman Crothers in Kubrick’s film, he was also played by Melvin Van Peebles in ABC’s 1997 miniseries “The Shining” and by Carl Lumbly in 2019’s “Doctor Sleep” (a sequel that sought to reconcile the conflicting visions of King and Kubrick).
Now, Chris Chalk’s on-screen version of Hallorann (fourth overall) has proven to be one of the biggest success stories of “Welcome to Derry” Season 1. The actor’s portrayal of the character has been unwaveringly brilliant, so it’s no surprise that fans are clamoring for a “Shining” series featuring Chalk’s Hallorann. Therefore, even though Kubrick’s film made “The Shining” an almost untouchable story, there has never been a better time to start again. Luckily, based on the Season 1 finale of “Welcome to Derry,” it seems like its creators are at least thinking about such a thing.
Welcome to Derry hints at what a Chris Chalk-led Shining series could be
Dick Hallorann is known for “The Shining,” but like most characters in Stephen King’s novels, he has connections to other stories in the King-verse. In the original “It” novel, it is revealed that Hallorann was part of Derry’s history and even co-founded the town’s Black Spot bar (the destruction of which was recalled in the book and described in disturbing detail in “Welcome to Derry” season 1, episode 7). “Welcome to Derry,” however, took things even further, fleshing out Hallorann’s story in numerous ways and even depicting her never-seen grandmother and her abusive husband in a flashback scene that once again showcased Chris Chalk’s considerable talents.
By the time we got to the Season 1 finale of “Welcome to Derry,” Hallorann had become a much more defined character than he had ever been. This, combined with Chalk’s stellar performance, will keep fans wanting to know more about the character, and a “Shining” series is the perfect way to give them what they want.
“Welcome to Derry” was not without its faults. The pillars that keep him parked in Derry seem a little too convenient, while the big reveal that James Remar’s General Francis Shaw simply wants to unleash him on the nation seemed a little anticlimactic. But overall, “Welcome to Derry” proved that its co-creators know how to do a Stephen King series well, and with Chalk leading the way, an adaptation of the “Shining” TV series could be even better. Fortunately, the “Welcome to Derry” writers have at least thought about what Hallorann might do after the events of Season 1. All they have to do now is take us along.
Give us a Chris Chalk Dick Hallorann series now, even if it’s not The Shining
Stephen King’s disdain for Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation “The Shining” led King to produce the 1997 miniseries version, intended as a much more faithful adaptation of his book. But while some consider the “Shining” series a worthy companion to Kubrick’s film, it is not (unsurprisingly) remembered with the kind of reverence that the Jack Nicholson-led film enjoys. Now, the creatives behind “It: Welcome to Derry” have the chance to do it right with their own adaptation of “Shining” — or perhaps something else entirely.
In the season 1 finale of “Welcome to Derry”, Dick Hallorann meets Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) at his home and tells him that he is leaving for London, where a friend has asked him to become a cook in a hotel kitchen. Of course, Hallorann started out on “The Shining” as the head chef of the Overlook Hotel – meaning the season finale “Welcome to Derry” apparently hinted at a possible “Shining” adaptation without confirming anything.
The Hallorann from “The Shining” is much older than Chris Chalk’s version, and the Overlook Hotel is in Colorado, not London. There is, however, a subtle hint that the makers of “Welcome to Derry” might be considering a reworked version of King’s story when Hallorann says to Hanlon, “What trouble can a hotel be?” Of course, this could just be foreshadowing the events of “The Shining,” which won’t happen until later. But it could also suggest that this mysterious London hotel has secrets of its own. Could we have a Hallorann series that follows him as he travels from one haunted location to another? The possibilities are truly endless.
You can stream Season 1 of “It: Welcome to Derry” on HBO Max.
