It: Welcome to Derry writers reveal how integral Stephen King was while creating the new HBO show

It: Welcome to Derry producers chose to expand one of Stephen King's most popular fright tales, and subsequently, fans had a question: how much did King himself contribute to the new series? The answer is yes, but not in the "King wrote every line" sense.

For It: Welcome to Derry, the team had close interaction with King as a source of guidance/feedback. He provided advice, left them free to experiment, and even authorized instances where they struck the right tone. At times, he gave them a direct answer to their queries; at other times, he merely advised them to follow their intuition.

In a conversation with ScreenRant, writers Jason Fuchs and Brad Caleb Kane expressed that it "was a huge relief and really a career highlight" for both of them "as mega Stephen King nerds.” The last show feels like the organic next step in King's world: not a remake, but a thoughtful extension. It maintains his classic blend of fascination, dread, and small-town intrigue, while introducing a couple of new turns of its own.

It: Welcome to Derry is a collaborative effort between King, Fuchs, and Kane

Writers and showrunners of It: Welcome to Derry characterize Stephen King as a creative collaborator who was actively engaged but never dominating. Rather than rewriting scripts or insisting on scenes, he offered good suggestions, addressed questions regarding the backstory of the story, and gave his candid responses after viewing episodes, at times in astonishment or exhilaration.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Jason Fuchs said:

“Stephen [King] was very involved, he would have to read and approve virtually everything, but [the writers] didn't know what his reaction was to the finished product until he put out a message on Threads that said he loved the show and episode 1 was terrifying.”

Stephen King's comments were viewed by the team as cordial advice, not commands. This freedom enabled them to delve into aspects of the story that the original novel merely hinted at, such as Derry's sinister history and Pennywise's cryptic origins, without abandoning the spirit of King's universe. His positive emails and public endorsements, including his declaration that the first episode was "terrifying," provided encouragement and assurance to the writers.

Balancing bold ideas with HBO’s boundaries

Stephen King had the authority to pass or veto sections of the It: Welcome to Derry script, the standard arrangement for large adaptations of his work. But he seldom exercised that leverage to shut down something. Rather, he provided constructive feedback, offered his opinions, and most often complimented ideas he enjoyed. His stamp of approval mattered; as Fuchs said, “To have him give it the seal of approval was incredible.” When a legend such as King shares his validation, it emboldens the makers to push the boundaries of darker and stranger ideas.

Simultaneously, the team also needed to juggle extreme creativity with how much HBO would tolerate. Fortunately, the network accommodated some fairly heavy content. King's involvement became a beacon for the writers and a symbol of confidence for the executives. He went over the scripts, provided criticism, and openly expressed his enthusiasm for the project. That combination of public support and private investment aided the show in striking the right balance between the original and the new.

Trending

For more such insights on It: Welcome to Derry, keep following SoapCentral.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback