Don't Miss This Legendary Stephen King Movie Before the Series' Upcoming Installment

HBO's Welcome to Derry is packed with connections to the author's wide-ranging collection of tales. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the show also features an explicit connection to King's famous novel through the appearance of a young Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story unfolds, Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic King story which merits a revisit.

The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption

While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, particularly in contrast with much of the author's additional work, it is a gripping story about an innocently imprisoned man condemned to spend the rest of his life inside a notorious penitentiary. And it's that very institution that becomes central in this context, since the Shawshank facility possesses significant lore throughout King's fictional world — a pattern that continues within It: Welcome to Derry.

Some of the stories which mention Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these narratives, we learn regarding the awful life inside Shawshank State Prison plus several of the inmates within, including the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's initial victims, who had been found guilty for robbery with a weapon.

Thus far, however, the most we've learned concerning Shawshank was via the perspective of Andy Dufresne from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy ends up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, and experiences assaulted and raped by other prisoners, and exploited by those in officials in power for his financial knowledge. He requires nearly three decades to tunnel his way out of the prison, prior to making his way "through a river of shit" to take back his freedom.

Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry

Regarding the series, viewers first learned about the prison's inclusion via an initial preview for the show, where a correctional transport was seen with the name displayed on its side. In episode 2, we learn who is probably destined for Shawshank.

Although we know he did not commit the murders of children in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"

The Implications for the Character and Ronnie

Given that the actual murderer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world preying on and killing children, Hank's prospects of clearing his name appear slim. Even should he does go to Shawshank and the audience do not see him there, knowing what is known regarding Shawshank indicates that his time there would not be enjoyable.

Crucially, however, this development could threaten Ronnie. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are happening around Derry that nobody, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her recently formed of friends to depend on. She will require her father as the story progresses, however should Shawshank plays a role, she may be out of luck.

A single fact seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to tunnel his way out.

It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.