Stephen King’s iconic novelITis hitting the small screen again with the HBO prequel seriesIT: Welcome to Derry, which has some close ties to one of his never-adapted books. Considering how manyStephen King filmand TV adaptations there have been over the past nearly 50 years, it’s hard to believe how many of his stories have still never received an adaptation.
That notion becomes more confusing when considering how certain novels have received multiple adaptations, such as 1986’sIT. Following the 1990 miniseries, 2017 movie, and 2019 film sequel,ITand Pennywiseare returning this year in HBO’sWelcome to Derry. However, since it focuses onprevious eras of Pennywise’s terrorin Derry, Maine, the show’s setting opens up the potential to incorporate other King stories that take place there.
Stephen King’s Insomnia Book Story Could Be Incorporated Into IT: Welcome To Derry
OneStephen King novel set in Derry, Mainethat could have its story or characters inserted inWelcome to Derryis his 1994 fantasy horrorInsomnia. While it has much closer connections to Stephen King’s fantasy seriesThe Dark Towerthrough the Crimson King,Insomnia’s setting gives it some smaller links to other Derry-located stories likeIT,11/22/63,Dreamcatcher, andBag of Bones.
Insomniafollows Ralph Roberts, a widower in Derry whose insomnia leads him to develop the ability to perceive auras and typically hidden supernatural figures and elements. Ultimately, his new “gifts” culminate in Ralph joining an interplanar battle between forces for the Purpose and the Random, the latter spearheaded by the twisted Crimson King.
Throughout Ralph’s journey,Insomniamakes some direct references to characters and events from King’sITnovel. That includes figures like Henry Bowers’ abusive father, Oscar “Butch” Bowers, a cameo byadult Mike Hanlonas Derry’s librarian, and several references to the storm that destroyed Derry after Pennywise’s defeat in the 1986 book.
Considering Ralph Roberts had lived all his life in Derry, Maine, it wouldn’t be out of the question to includeInsomnia’s main character inWelcome to Derryfor a cameo. It’s also possible that the HBO series could make references to thevillainous Crimson King, whose influence of chaos in Derry likely predatedInsomnia.
Even thoughInsomniaitself has never received an adaptation,IT: Welcome to Derrycould finally be the way that its characters and story elements make it onto the screen.
Why Insomnia Has Never Been Adapted After More Than 30 Years
Considering its fantastical elements and the difficulty in properly translating Ralph’s perception of auras, the “bald doctors,” and shifts between different planes of reality, it’s not too shocking thatInsomniahas struggled to get an adaptation. Ultimately, the storytelling strategies implemented inInsomniadon’t mesh well with cinematic depictions.
Additionally,adaptingInsomniais almost impossiblewithout also making it an adaptation ofThe Dark Tower. The end ofInsomnia’s novel is essentially an installment inThe Dark Towerseries due to the Crimson King’s role, and fully understandingInsomnia’s story would require knowledge of that series. UnlessInsomniawas to be adapted as a sequel or spinoff to an existingDark Toweradaptation, it’s unlikely to receive a show likeIT: Welcome to Derryanytime soon.
