- - Chris Chalk adds depth to fan favorite character in 'It: Welcome to Derry'

Brian Truitt, USA TODAYNovember 24, 2025 at 4:15 AM

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Spoiler alert! The following post discusses important plot points and the ending of the new episode of HBO’s “It: Welcome to Derry” series so beware if you haven’t seen it yet.

The latest episode of “It: Welcome to Derry” made Chris Chalk face one of his greatest fears. And it had nothing to do with a creepy clown.

Chalk stars in the “It” prequel series (airing Sunday nights on HBO, streaming on HBO Max) as psychic Army private Dick Hallorann, a younger version of the iconic Stephen King character famously seen in "The Shining." Dick has been a supporting player through much of the 1960s-set show so far, but he plays a large role in the fifth episode, which also features the maniacal Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard).

Chris Chalk plays beloved Stephen King character Dick Hallorann in "It: Welcome to Derry."

The dark entity returns to Derry every 27 years to feed on the Maine town’s children, and the show reveals its origins are extra-terrestrial in nature. The military wants to capture it so they can end the Cold War, and Dick’s abilities have been used to find out more about this evil.

The new episode centers on a group including Dick going into the tunnels under Derry to find the supernatural pillars that trap Pennywise. Dick falls into shallow sewer water, which turns into an otherworldly deep space he has to swim out of. He emerges from a bathroom tub to revisit a childhood trauma, finding his beloved grandmother but also his threatening grandfather. The old man wants Dick to open his mysterious lockbox, he refuses, and when it comes unlocked Dick is bombarded by psychic pain.

Later, Dick emerges from the tunnel into the daylight, not knowing where is and seeing an undead version of a killed fellow soldier. Cut to an open box radiating a strange red light.

"I love that episode because this is it for Dick. It all falls apart, every single bit of his confidence," Chalk says.

Doing the new episode also freaked out Chalk, 47, on a personal level. He had to do tank work for the scene where Dick’s plunged into the water, and it was a challenge psychologically for the actor after almost drowning while swimming during a recent summer at an acting workshop.

Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Ojj32g6GKwakxbf9SiHLiw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d392e924d0d763e9540e82930655771a class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.

">Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Ojj32g6GKwakxbf9SiHLiw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d392e924d0d763e9540e82930655771a class=caas-img>Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DQDRwxaXfhY_91I7SeI1KA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04ODE-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/237aceec7d9fd02d1435f073a1b065ad class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.

">Stephen King answers questions at the Davis-Kidd Booksellers bookstore in Green Hills in 1994, during his "Insomnia" book tour.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DQDRwxaXfhY_91I7SeI1KA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04ODE-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/237aceec7d9fd02d1435f073a1b065ad class=caas-img>Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OVJBfOo6kHVM6EGT6bYdmQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/347d2b8818d35c0879387f5864f94f7b class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.

">Stephen King hops onto his Harley-Davidson to leave Nashville, one of 10 stops on his 4,300-mile tour to promote his book, "Insomnia" and independent bookstores.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OVJBfOo6kHVM6EGT6bYdmQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/347d2b8818d35c0879387f5864f94f7b class=caas-img>Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dyGqxugkhvNZV2UXwUCwJA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzAx/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/79743b24611b7562ed8b02d271356c11 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.

">Stephen King, author, photographed at the Little League baseball stadium he built in 1998.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dyGqxugkhvNZV2UXwUCwJA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzAx/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/79743b24611b7562ed8b02d271356c11 class=caas-img>Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/T3uQLykRHdQnsiRPjJ4fDw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg1/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/fd79c7a4ac2359eb60459d9e0af778c5 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.

">Stephen King is greeted by actor Michael Clarke Duncan at the premiere of the film "The Green Mile" in 1999.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/T3uQLykRHdQnsiRPjJ4fDw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg1/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/fd79c7a4ac2359eb60459d9e0af778c5 class=caas-img>Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/UV52qH1an3goBO2YU4Sq0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjA3/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3318b2373e2fa8ebe7185141d22c4998 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.

">Stephen King poses in New York City before performing with rock charity supergroup The Rock Bottom Remainders in 2001.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/UV52qH1an3goBO2YU4Sq0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjA3/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3318b2373e2fa8ebe7185141d22c4998 class=caas-img>Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/NzbV38MB7eSRV7CAMlZD9w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzMw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/677489089d3ee75ad11bd99efb512979 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.

">Stephen King arrives for the Los Angeles premiere of the film "The Manchurian Candidate" in 2004.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/NzbV38MB7eSRV7CAMlZD9w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzMw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/677489089d3ee75ad11bd99efb512979 class=caas-img>"Misery" by Stephen King

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JLxGrL_BqCcQ7fH7qvzCzQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE0NjI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f0c2b4d63e0e8f452ecb5dd7ced6ecaa class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

"Misery" by Stephen King

">"Misery" by Stephen King

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/JLxGrL_BqCcQ7fH7qvzCzQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE0NjI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f0c2b4d63e0e8f452ecb5dd7ced6ecaa class=caas-img>Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/pCgmKvfFJSpb.kFtVGv7Mw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/675e7a3cd0cd71ff88737b978c4c1f0f class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.

">Stephen King and Amy Tan appear together at the 2002 New Yorker Festival.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/pCgmKvfFJSpb.kFtVGv7Mw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODg4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/675e7a3cd0cd71ff88737b978c4c1f0f class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/V.MJEO3vcgGyRd9_C_Ftdg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODQz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/891e9153afee2b737502bb0486c08d6e class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.

">Stephen King attends a benefit reading for Frank Muller at Town Hall in 2002 in New York City. Actor and audiobook narrator Frank Muller sustained debilitating injuries in a motorcycle accident in November 2001. The event raised funds to assist in meeting the immediate needs of Muller and his family.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/V.MJEO3vcgGyRd9_C_Ftdg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODQz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/891e9153afee2b737502bb0486c08d6e class=caas-img>Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/m0B_SlHRWmP3SgO891s0iA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjMy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6752dd1cc9398f8f153baadc583eb1ab class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.

">Stephen King and actor Donnie Wahlberg greet each other at the premiere of Dreamcatcher and the afterparty in 2003.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/m0B_SlHRWmP3SgO891s0iA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjMy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6752dd1cc9398f8f153baadc583eb1ab class=caas-img>J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/NTvHW7aRGhuqFgjUFzWGHw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8c22bfeb1bff5502072f3dee7af5fb87 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.

">J.K. Rowling and Stephen King attend a news conference for "An Evening With Harry, Carrie and Garp," a reading with Rowling, King and John Irving in 2006.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/NTvHW7aRGhuqFgjUFzWGHw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8c22bfeb1bff5502072f3dee7af5fb87 class=caas-img>Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/K7iCY5RxJ__qPx6S3g3NeQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03ODA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cbecabf192425908d12a56f2cc02313f class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

">Stephen King (R) speaks at the Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/K7iCY5RxJ__qPx6S3g3NeQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03ODA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cbecabf192425908d12a56f2cc02313f class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/R2FHy_ZyIBZbiFDPmuXfkQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/be6d8b8f3ccdc7653cb7f1911699d9cd class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.

">Stephen King attends a signing session for his new novel "Lisey's Story" at Borders bookstore in 2006 in London, England.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/R2FHy_ZyIBZbiFDPmuXfkQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/be6d8b8f3ccdc7653cb7f1911699d9cd class=caas-img>"Duma Key" by Stephen King.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3blE0gRFt3faDNc2SJoMzg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODc4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e853de3711d5e7dd7a624fd2b2e43acf class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

"Duma Key" by Stephen King.

">"Duma Key" by Stephen King.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3blE0gRFt3faDNc2SJoMzg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODc4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e853de3711d5e7dd7a624fd2b2e43acf class=caas-img>Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/9Z9gqY5MNRjPRU797Aj.1g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8bacf4b555c04b99dbc6b37eba9c78fb class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007

">Stephen King performs with rock charity supergroup the Rock Bottom Remainders in 2007

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/9Z9gqY5MNRjPRU797Aj.1g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8bacf4b555c04b99dbc6b37eba9c78fb class=caas-img>Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/CQuFzf37eM8BL8.rXb0hbw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODY2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/93fec420c8e5182995197a116a6f1d9b class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.

">Stephen King poses for a portrait in 2008 for his new novel, "Duma Key," which borrows from his own life as it follows a man surviving a life-threatening accident. In 1999, King survived a hit by a drunk driver.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/CQuFzf37eM8BL8.rXb0hbw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODY2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/93fec420c8e5182995197a116a6f1d9b class=caas-img>Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_2KBawMc0RLAuzQzmMOvCA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/40c3d40546514cffafa009b736491e54 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.

">Stephen King promotes "Under The Dome" at the North Point Boulevard Walmart in Dundalk, Maryland in 2009.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/_2KBawMc0RLAuzQzmMOvCA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04MjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/40c3d40546514cffafa009b736491e54 class=caas-img>Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/g1eenYKAb.VSIKosqe05iw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/2533254767c1921e0a575a7b712976cc class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.

">Stephen King holds up a pink Amazon Kindle 2 at a news conference in New York where the device was introduced in 2009.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/g1eenYKAb.VSIKosqe05iw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/2533254767c1921e0a575a7b712976cc class=caas-img>Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0aHjWGJJ.gAl4UMqv8vI7w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/47b34c8411d5ab3aabcb2e6cbebe9ee9 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.

">Stephen King in 2011 at the 6th Floor Museum near the location where Lee Harvey Oswald fired fatal shots at John F. Kennedy. King's novel "11/22/63" is about a man who goes back in time hoping to stop the assassination.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0aHjWGJJ.gAl4UMqv8vI7w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/47b34c8411d5ab3aabcb2e6cbebe9ee9 class=caas-img>Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6UR_xLr4J7MF3REqns.soQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/ce2c46b7f3b629ecf058308dcae6e432 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."

">Stephen King in 2013 in Paris before a book signing event dedicated to the release of his "Doctor Sleep", the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining."

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/6UR_xLr4J7MF3REqns.soQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/ce2c46b7f3b629ecf058308dcae6e432 class=caas-img>Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/oQIJ2GE1mjyoQvD14WOXhA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/aade50bdad850616b9529b3b05d526eb class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.

">Stephen King's new book "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to his 1977 novel "The Shining," displayed in Paris.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/oQIJ2GE1mjyoQvD14WOXhA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/aade50bdad850616b9529b3b05d526eb class=caas-img>Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/k13nIEHjRoHfs762ZlLTnw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjk4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/80e771780f1ff614f93d7828fbd7b06e class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.

">Stephen King arrives for a press conference for his new book "Doctor Sleep" in 2013.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/k13nIEHjRoHfs762ZlLTnw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjk4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/80e771780f1ff614f93d7828fbd7b06e class=caas-img>Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1EK1kQeehNC4krqIFegl8w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MTQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5e7b097e6442adafcd407458fdbe5225 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.

">Stephen King (center) takes in the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2014.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1EK1kQeehNC4krqIFegl8w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MTQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5e7b097e6442adafcd407458fdbe5225 class=caas-img>Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IidiCr2KtV_KUC7S6svSXA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/30b6081de990c0a86d01ade3a2724ce7 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.

">Stephen King takes a photo with a fan before the start of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston in 2018.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IidiCr2KtV_KUC7S6svSXA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/30b6081de990c0a86d01ade3a2724ce7 class=caas-img>Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Rhn_S4kLhxIDNm5jcWCj.g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mzk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/896da7a1358595fa1c9ef477c0575d75 class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.

">Former President Barack Obama presents Stephen King with the National Medal of Arts during a ceremony at the White House in 2015.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Rhn_S4kLhxIDNm5jcWCj.g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mzk-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/896da7a1358595fa1c9ef477c0575d75 class=caas-img>Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IulDbi20kNkQOj0odkTfZw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a1b68df213ce1b8bd9042be4e1e3184f class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.

">Stephen King attends a special screening of "IT" in Bangor, Maine in 2017.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IulDbi20kNkQOj0odkTfZw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a1b68df213ce1b8bd9042be4e1e3184f class=caas-img>Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5LnmOdS8C8L6EQMvjV_3Rw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3f8e9e90a6a4c0d468f52a3973f425cf class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

">Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5LnmOdS8C8L6EQMvjV_3Rw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/3f8e9e90a6a4c0d468f52a3973f425cf class=caas-img>Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jNsFS8Kb_Ecv48aMKWtP6A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/755b3fa5cc03c1c83de4ae8e544a334e class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.

">Stephen King signs autographs after stepping out of US District Court in Washington, D.C. in 2022. King testified for the US government in an antitrust case involving publishers' merging.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jNsFS8Kb_Ecv48aMKWtP6A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/755b3fa5cc03c1c83de4ae8e544a334e class=caas-img>Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/n97lf3O2Bgx_R7XxJ1mbzg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05NDM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/ce3b352e144d5b069855043528315cce class=caas-img data-headline="Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books" data-caption="

Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

">Stephen King and actress Kate Siegel attend the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/n97lf3O2Bgx_R7XxJ1mbzg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05NDM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/ce3b352e144d5b069855043528315cce class=caas-img>

1 / 30Stephen King's career in photos: Look back at the ‘King of Horror’ and his books

Bestselling author Stephen King, shown in a 1970 file photo.

“I don't think I've ever been more vulnerable because I was so scared, which comes up in this show,” Chalk says. He remembers telling the director, “I just want you to know, man. My brain might do some brain stuff. You'll get good stuff, I promise. But you have to understand, Chris Chalk is actually afraid today. This is not a game.”

He admits to being “terrified” but also excited: “I was like, 'This show's going to be more therapy!’ ”

Chris Chalk is the latest actor to play a Stephen King favorite

Dick Hallorann is a key protagonist who appears in various King novels and movie adaptations. In the 1980 horror classic “The Shining,” Scatman Crothers played an older version of Hallorann, the head chef at the Overlook Hotel who befriends young Danny Torrance. Melvin Van Peebles played the role in a 1997 TV miniseries version of King’s book, while Carl Lumbly was Hallorann in the 2019 “Shining” sequel “Doctor Sleep.”

It's been “a fun math problem” charting a character arc from his younger self to Crothers’ kind helper, Chalk says. “When did he start liking kids? When did he stop being so selfish? When did he get control of his powers? And when did he stop being petrified of his powers? Some of that isn't even answered in this series, but all those questions start to get asked because we know where he is headed."

More pressing is how Dick gets out of his current predicament in Derry – or whatever version of Derry he’s currently located as Episode 5 ends.

Dick (Chris Chalk) emerges from a tunnel to a different version of Derry than he entered at the end of the latest "It: Welcome to Derry" episode.

“Dick's dealing with his greatest trauma legit coming to life," Chalk says. "No one else can see it. And there's a monster in town! I can't imagine that it's going to get better for him.”

There’s also a major moment coming up from King’s “It” book. “Welcome to Derry” is based on interludes in the novel that chart Derry’s cursed history, and in the novel Hallorann plays a role in the chapter that explains the burning of the Black Spot, a nightclub for Black soldiers, by a white supremacist group.

Hallorann and other characters have been seen setting up their version of the Black Spot in the show, which five episodes in has already explored racism and prejudice of the time.

The series will have “a different take” on the Black Spot incident, but if “people read the book, they've got an idea,” Chalk teases. “For Dick, the Black Spot is the only place in Derry that he has felt safe so far. I wonder what Pennywise would do if he knew that.”

Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) feels safe in the Black Spot, though that promises to be a place of some turmoil in "It: Welcome to Derry."

Working on the show and the way it tackles fear and trauma as repeated cycles has given Chalk new respect for King’s original prose.

“The whole point of ‘It’ is we keep fearing stuff. We're so scared to even face our own traumas that we'll tell the same stories over and over again. We'll keep doing the same things to each other, which is like, well, then let the monster come eat you because you're not living,” Chalk says.

“Stephen King's a really smart dude. You think he's just writing a horror book and you go, ‘Wait, no.’ Especially rereading it as an adult who's significantly smarter than I was as a kid. This dude is really pushing boundaries. It seems like he's stressing us out, but he is really giving us some advice.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'It: Welcome to Derry' puts Chris Chalk in iconic Stephen King role

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”