How did Hallorann end up in the military in It: Welcome to Derry? Details explored

The character of Dick Hallorann has been seen on screen multiple times before he appears in It: Welcome to Derry. The character was first portrayed by Scatman Crothers in The Shining (1980). In It: Welcome to Derry, we see a much younger Dick Halloran, who is a young Air Force enlisted man long before he becomes the mentor figure seen in The Shining.

He appears throughout It: Welcome to Derry, working on the Derry Air Force Base, transporting officers, and using abilities the military values but does not fully respect. Even with everything the show reveals about Derry’s strange history, one important part of Hallorann’s life is still unknown: how he entered the military, and how they learnt about his psychic powers.

Hallorann’s backstory in It: Welcome to Derry

In It: Welcome to Derry, Hallorann is introduced during a key scene where Captain Pauly Russo and Major Leroy Hanlon arrive at the base. He drives them and Colonel Fuller to General Shaw. This simple task sets the stage for Hallorann’s unusual position within the Air Force. Although he is an enlisted Airman, he is treated differently from others.

Throughout the series, we learn that the Army gives him special privileges because of his psychic ability, which the military depends on. His shining power helps them track a mysterious force beneath Derry, something they believe could be powerful enough to win America the Cold War. Even so, Hallorann’s involvement does not appear to be voluntary. He faces threats and pressure from Army officials whenever he struggles to detect the buried weapon.

This might make one think of how the Army got hold of him in the first place. The series has not addressed how Dick Halloran was recruited into the military directly. However, actor Chris Chalk, who portrays Hallorann in It: Welcome to Derry, has discussed the behind-the-scenes conversations about the character’s early years. His statement gives us a clearer picture of how Hallorann may have ended up under military control.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chris Chalk explained that the show never reveals how the Army first discovered Hallorann’s powers. But he shared the internal idea the creative team discussed. He said they imagined Hallorann playing a harmless card game in the South. He started winning too consistently, and his success drew attention. As Chalk said,

"I think Andy would still stick to this, but we talked about a card game. He was down South, playing a car game and winning too much. Then, through some sort of setup, they realized, “Oh, this guy’s kind of special. Lock him up, don’t care.” Eventually, they found a use for him."

This suggests he did not willingly join the military. Instead, the Army took him once they noticed he could do things others couldn’t. Chalk went on to say,

"In my brain, he wasn’t used for a while, and he sat in a dark, damp room until they said, “We’ve got something for you, Hallorann, and then you can be set free.” He really has to succeed at this, or he’s going back to that little underground prison."

His comments indicate that Hallorann’s early years with the military were most likely harsh and forced. If Hallorann was taken after a card game, it raises questions about whether the Army already knew his psychic abilities existed. It also makes viewers wonder if his capture marked a turning point in the Stephen King universe, if it was possibly the first time the military identified someone with the Shine. The series also reveals that General Shaw had a childhood encounter with It, meaning he was already aware of supernatural forces. This could explain why he might have been involved in searching for people with unusual abilities, such as Hallorann.

The creators of It: Welcome to Derry are planning for the show to go on for three seasons. If that happens, there is a strong chance viewers will eventually see how Hallorann was taken by the Army and what secrets he keeps in his mysterious box. For now, Hallorann remains one of the strongest links between It: Welcome to Derry and the rest of Stephen King's world. His past is filled with unanswered questions, but each episode helps us understand how he became the man we later meet in The Shining.

Episode 6 of It: Welcome to Derry, In the Name of the Father, will be released on HBO Max on November 30, 2025, at 9 pm ET.

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