Stephen King has given an early evaluate for HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry, which permits the overarching IT franchise to hit a brand new milestone.
Primarily based on certainly one of Stephen King’s most popular books, the IT films grossed a mixed field workplace of over $1 billion worldwide. Though the second IT film was comparatively extra divisive by way of important reception, the 2 movies simply rank among the many most profitable adaptations of Stephen King’s work.
Owing to their success, it isn’t stunning that their lore is now being expanded with a TV present. Serving as a prequel to the movies, HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry can be obtainable for streaming on October 26, 2025. Whereas solely time will inform whether or not the present will have the ability to repeat the films’ success, Stephen King’s early evaluate of it spells a promising begin for the sequence.
Stephen King’s Reward For Welcome To Derry Redeems His Extra Blended Response To IT’s Final TV Present
The primary TV adaptation of Stephen King’s IT got here out in 1990. The present starred Tim Curry as Pennywise and unfolded its story in two elements. Though the present continues to be thought to be one of many higher small-screen Stephen King variations, it has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 68%, suggesting a extra blended response from critics.
Because the above put up reveals, Stephen King has praised It: Welcome to Derry by calling it “wonderful” and hinting at how its “first episode is terrifying.” In the case of the 1990 miniseries, nevertheless, Stephen King, too, had a blended response. In a 2015 interview (through Yahoo), he mentioned the present actually shocked him and was even actually formidable.
King later addressed the 1990 sequence’ affect on a complete technology (through EW) by recalling how “children between the ages of 8 and 14 had been scared sh**much less by Tim Curry.” He even in contrast it with the primary IT film, highlighting the way it gave audiences “an opportunity to revisit that specific expertise of their childhood.“
Though the present left King shocked with how a lot it achieved with its miniseries format, the creator did have a number of reservations about its inventive liberties. Though the creator by no means explicitly denounced the difference. He particularly had an issue with the present’s lack of deal with the grownup characters and the way it portrayed Richie Tozier with considerably lowered depth.
The creator felt the present’s Richie solely had two dimensions to him: he was both “a scumbag” or “type of a kindhearted Buddy Hackett.” (through Fangoria Subject 99)
Stephen King’s Reward Is A Massive Milestone For Andy Muschietti’s 3 IT Diversifications
The primary IT film received a constructive reception from each viewers and critics when it premiered in 2017. Even to at the present time, the film holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 85%. Owing to this, it isn’t stunning that Stephen King, too, cherished the movie and mentioned that, despite the fact that he already had excessive hopes for it, he was ”not ready for a way good it actually was.” (through popculture.)
Though the second film received a comparatively extra blended reception, King held his stance on Andy Muschietti’s tackle his novel by calling each movies ”enjoyable” and ”scary” (through Vanity Fair). After the 2 films, It: Welcome to Derry has now develop into the third Andy Muschietti adaptation of Stephen King’s IT to earn the creator’s stamp of approval.
It proves that despite the fact that Andy Muschietti’s huge and small display interpretations of Stephen King’s famend e book haven’t been good, they rank effectively above most variations of the creator’s work. Stephen King‘s evaluate of It: Welcome to Derry doesn’t assure its success, nevertheless it assures that it captures the essence and terrors of the supply materials.
