Welcome to Derry Just Officially Confirmed Its Shining Connection (& It’s Perfect)

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A highlight for many viewers of Welcome to Derry Season 1 was the appearance of Dick Hallorann, portrayed by Chris Chalk. Hallorann is a fan-favorite character from The Shining known for his ability to read minds, just like Danny Torrance. True to Stephen King’s style, all his stories are connected, and Hallorann actually has roots in Derry, having been referenced in King’s original 1986 novel.

The first episode, “The Pilot,” hinted that Hallorann would be a key player in the first season, though his specific purpose wasn’t clear. The second episode, “The Thing in the Dark,” clarifies his role by delving deeper into the nearby Army base and its classified activities.

Dick Hallorann Is Mentioned in Stephen King’s IT

Before arriving at the Overlook Hotel to meet the Torrance family, Hallorann served as a cook at Fort Derry. As a Black soldier during segregation, he and his unit lacked safe places to relax and socialize off-duty. They were given an old shed, and Hallorann encouraged everyone to improve it and make it their own gathering space.

Let me tell you, this new picture dives right into the heart of Derry’s underbelly. We see a group of guys finally realize their dream, opening a place called The Black Spot. But it quickly becomes clear not everyone in town is happy about it. Things escalate fast when a group resembling a hate group—think white sheets and torches—descends on the bar. What happens next is truly shocking, one of the worst nights Derry has ever seen. And, if the rumors are true, a mysterious figure named Hallorann played a key role in preventing even more tragedy, even saving the life of Mike Hanlon’s father. It’s a tense, gripping sequence, and honestly, a pretty important piece of the puzzle.

HBO’s new prequel series changes the established timeline, showing Hallorann working with the father of young Will Hanlon, who goes by Airman. Season 1 of Welcome to Derry will delve into the terrifying fire at The Black Spot. Episode 2 also reveals that Hallorann arrived in the Maine town for a surprising, additional reason.

Hallorann Is Using His Shine to Locate Pennywise

Amidst the Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union, General Shaw (James Remar) tells Hanlon that the government is secretly searching Derry for a powerful weapon to use against the Soviets. This weapon, capable of inducing fatal fear, is hidden in the town and marked by several ‘beacons.’ The military’s digging around the town’s edges is part of their effort to find these beacons and locate the weapon.

Private investigator Dick Hallorann is helping to find the signals that will guide them to this mysterious weapon. No one knows how they’ll manage to control the powerful, otherworldly creature, but it’s sure to be a sight to see. The episode ends with General Shaw showing Hanlon the progress they’ve made at an excavation site. The team unearths an old, bullet-damaged car with a crane, which fans of Stephen King will recognize as belonging to the Bradley Gang – and the skeletons of its members are still inside. Hallorann believes they are nearing a breakthrough.

As a big fan of both The Shining and the It universe, I’ve always wondered about Hallorann. While he’s briefly mentioned in Stephen King’s It, it’s never explicitly said he actually saw Pennywise. But considering Hallorann’s ‘shine’ – that psychic ability – it feels pretty certain he sensed something seriously wrong while stationed at the Derry army base. Now, with the Welcome to Derry series coming up, the possibility of him crossing paths with Pennywise, or some earlier form of It, feels incredibly likely and honestly, I can’t wait to see how they handle it!

Welcome to Derry airs every Sunday, leading up to the season finale on December 14.

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2025-10-31 11:06