Context:

Derry, the fictional town in Stephen King's 'IT' and HBO's prequel series 'IT: Welcome to Derry,' is not a real place but is inspired by Bangor, Maine, where King wrote the novel. He confirmed that he based Derry on Bangor, noting a direct correlation between the two towns, including recognizable landmarks. While Derry serves as a pivotal setting in King's universe, appearing in multiple works, viewers of the series can expect to see numerous Easter eggs linking back to King's broader literary themes. The show airs weekly on HBO and continues to build on King's intricate storytelling.

Dive Deeper:

• Stephen King began writing 'IT' in Bangor, Maine, in 1981, completing it in 1985, and acknowledged that he created Derry as a fictionalized version of Bangor.

• King has stated, 'Bangor became Derry,' indicating that the town's name change was influenced by a similarly named town in Ireland, further enhancing the connection between the two locations.

• Notable landmarks in Bangor that inspired Derry include the Paul Bunyan statue and the Thomas Hill Standpipe, which are likely to resonate with viewers of 'IT: Welcome to Derry.'

• Derry also appears in other King novels such as 'Insomnia' and 'Dreamcatcher,' making it a recurring element in his literary universe.

• The prequel series 'IT: Welcome to Derry' is filled with Easter eggs referencing King's other works, enhancing the connection for fans of his stories.

• New episodes of 'IT: Welcome to Derry' are released every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, generating anticipation for further developments in the series.