HBO's hit horror prequel series It: Welcome to Derry drew 5.7M U.S. viewers in the first three days of its release, but production was halted for 8 months before the creators could debut its two-part premiere on October 26.Like many productions, Stephen King's adaptation was also shut down amid the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, following which the creators faced many logistical issues. While the Muschietti siblings have discussed the hardships their series faced during the writer's strike, it allowed the actors to build genuine relationships off-screen.Star Stephen Rider (Hank Grogan) recently joined hosts Marc Bernardin and Princess Weekes on the official It: Welcome to Derry Podcast, where he noted how the 2023 strikes helped him build a genuine connection and relationship with his on-screen daughter, Ronnie (played by Amanda Christine). Rider said:“I talk to them all the time. I still talk to Amanda, we talk. Like that’s my family.''More on this in our story.It: Welcome to Derry - Stephen Rider talks about his on-screen relationship with Amanda Christine View this post on Instagram Instagram PostOn the official podcast, Stephen Rider breaks down movie projectionist Hank's relationship with Ronnie, who was caught in between the brutal murders of three children in the Pilot episode. Rider revealed how he bonded with his on-screen daughter during the strike:''I think the biggest blessing beyond that, in a lot of ways, was the strike. Because it allowed all of us to really sit with these relationships and we would FaceTime each other and talk. And she [Christine] would tell me, her being a little young, like my niece … dealing with life. You know what I’m saying? But it allowed us to build an intimate relationship.”He added:''I think the biggest blessing is that we came back and we had a genuine relationship that transcended, just me and her. And so, I love Amanda. And I didn’t have to pretend on loving her... I was consistent, and I would show up, not just on set, but show up. And because of it, I believe we were able to hopefully transcend what the pages quote unquote said.”Hank and Ronnie's relationship is at the heart of It: Welcome to Derry View this post on Instagram Instagram PostIt: Welcome to Derry introduces Hank and Ronnie in the Pilot episode, which saw Teddy, Phil and Susie's brutal murders in the theatre at the hands of the mutant baby. Being a Black man and the movie projectionist, Hank was the easy target and the military manipulated Lilly into giving false testimony, which led to his conviction.Hank's conviction was the starting point for Ronnie to investigate the supernatural happenings in Derry and prove her father's innocence. Ronnie and Lilly's duo was eventually joined by Will and Rich, who started investigating supernatural occurrences that could lead to Hank's acquittal.While Hank and Ronnie do not share much screen time in It: Welcome to Derry, as Ronnie is busy fighting Pennywise with her new Loser's Club and Hank is locked away in prison, one can feel their love and respect on-screen. Stephen Rider's comments reveal the fatherly bond he shares with Christine, which is beautifully translated on-screen by the actors.It: Welcome to Derry releases weekly episodes on HBO every Sunday.For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow Soap Central.