Stephen King fans are in for one massive treat. Hulu is developing a new anthology series called Castle Rock that will create a giant interconnected universe based on the prolific author's impressive body of work. Each season will follow a different set of characters and storylines, while weaving in themes and specific characters from previous seasons. That's a huge tapestry to draw from, and Stephen King fans will be happy to know that two of King's most popular books will definitely have a presence in the series: The Shining and IT. The two properties, as well as a dozen others, were all teased in a new trailer for Castle Rock. Check it out.
Castle Rock is the product of another team-up between Stephen King, J.J. Abrams, and Hulu, who last collaborated on the Hulu miniseries, 11.22.63. The teaser trailer for Castle Rock puts into perspective just how many characters and settings are at this series disposal, using a series of red veins to race around the screen before revealing it all leads to Castle Rock, Maine. Sharp-eyed fans will notice references to Shawshank Redemption, Misery, The Green Mile, Salem's Lot, and Needful Things, but there's no way anyone missed the names "Pennywise" and "Danny Torrence." The two are key players in IT and The Shining respectively, books that are must-reads on any reading lists.
Here's a quick refresher course on Stephen King trivia: The Shining is a 1977 horror novel about aspiring writer Jack Torrence, who moves his son, Danny, and wife, Wendy, into the Overlook Hotel after accepting a position as an off-season caretaker. Danny possesses "the shining", an array of psychic abilities that allow him to see the horrific atrocities committed in the hotel. These spirits soon drive Jack mad and he attempts to murder his own family. The book cemented King as a horror writer and produced such iconic elements like Red Rum, the creepy twin girls in the hallway, and that dog man trying to blow that guy in the hotel room. (Fun fact: Stephen was not a fan of Stanely Kubrick's film version, which famously starred Jack Nicholson)
IT is another King classic and follows a group of lovable child misfits dubbed The Losers' Club in their hometown of Derry, Maine. The children soon discover that there is evil lurking under the town of Derry -- literally. The town is plagued by an evil child-eating shape-shifter known as "IT," who primarily takes the form of a clown called Pennywise to lure children into his clutches. The novel follows The Losers' Club in two distinct decades as they to rid themselves of "IT" once and for all. A new film based on IT is currently being produced, with Andrés Muschietti directing and starring Ben Skarsgård as Pennywise.
How strongly either of these two properties will play into Castle Rock or how much they will be used is currently unknown but the prospects are exciting, to say the least. _Castle Rock _does not yet have a release date so keep checking back in with CinemaBlend, and we'll keep you updated with new information as soon as it becomes available.
