“IT: Welcome to Derry” is a Masterclass in Cast Inclusivity
Diversity in Derry
ATTENTION: Some spoilers ahead.
Stephen King's iconic "IT" franchise is back, and it's more inclusive than ever.
As a Black woman and a lifelong fan of horror films, I was immediately drawn to the diverse casting on HBO's "IT: Welcome to Derry," which premiered on October 26.
King's "Pennywise the Dancing Clown" has terrified audiences for decades, first through his 1986 novel and the original 1990 miniseries, and then in the subsequent remakes in 2017 and 2019. Now, this new series pulls back the curtain on the sinister origins of this iconic character, while centering Black and Brown characters. By exploring the cursed town of Derry through the eyes of a broader range of characters, the series showcases how societal fears and prejudices can be even more horrifying than the shapeshifting creature lurking in the town's sewers, making the story more resonant and chilling than ever before.
Actors Chris Chalk, Jovan Adepo, Taylour Paige, Blake Cameron James, Stephen Rider, Amanda Christine, and a host of others deliver poignant and nuanced performances that add authenticity to every episode.
They're the kind of performances that make you talk back to the screen. And yes, I'm that person.
From a modern perspective, looking at the fictional town of Derry is like looking at vintage American advertisements from the 1950s and 60s, the kind that would paint a picture of the "American Dream" in often stereotypical ways. That imagery, paired with King's monstrous creation, Pennywise, speaks volumes — even today. It says that beneath the picture-perfect facades that people may try to put up, can lie something far more ominous.
In this way, the "IT" franchise is in essence an American story, and rather than including one or two characters of color as tokens, it's refreshing to see "IT: Welcome to Derry" place them at the forefront as complex individuals with their own sets of desires, fears, and beliefs.
After watching the series over the last few weeks, here are three things that stood out to me along the way:
THE DIALOGUE
For background, Hank Grogan (Rider) is a Black man who stands accused of murder when three white children go missing in Derry after a catastrophic visit to the local movie theater where he works, aided by his daughter, Veronica "Ronnie" Grogan. In episode 3, Hank sits in jail for a crime he didn't commit (spoiler alert, but not really: Pennywise did it). All eyes are on Ronnie (Christine) as she returns to school, flanked by her classmates who whisper and even laugh in the hallways about the allegations against her father, questioning whether or not he could have done what the police say he did.
"They must have evidence if they arrested him, right? This is America. You can't just throw people in jail for nothing," says classmate Ricardo "Rich" Santos (Arian S. Cartaya), who becomes one of the series' most beloved characters.
"Are we talking about the same country?" responds Will Hanlon (James) — because even as children, we're forced to view the world through different lenses.
Will, alongside his father, Leroy (Adepo), and his mother, Charlotte (Paige), just moved to Derry from the South, so the realities of being Black in America were far from foreign to this military family. Before relocating to Derry, Charlotte was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, so in episode 4, she takes it upon herself to try to help Hank out of his grave situation. When one of the police officers refuses to let Charlotte speak to Hank in jail, she warns him of the kind of havoc she can wreak with a telephone.
"If you don't let me see Hank Grogan right now, by tomorrow morning, I'll have MLK, JFK, RFK, and a whole bunch of other FKs breathing down your neck, along with a bus full of Freedom Riders after another from here to the turnpike singing 'We Shall Overcome' in the streets till you have to call the world's largest cowcatcher to clear them." You tell him, Charlotte!
Charlotte is unapologetically devoted to her community and her family, and I loved every minute of watching Paige bring this character to life on screen.
THE REAL HORRORS OF DERRY: FEAR, PREJUDICE, AND PENNYWISE
Before you watch episode 7, please brace yourself. It is, in a word… ROUGH. Pennywise is horrifying all on its own, but if you decide to tune into the series, be prepared to watch Black people come face-to-face with a completely different kind of evil — an evil as old as time itself. Racism.
To be honest, this episode made me so angry. I wanted to turn it off. I wanted to look away. I've grown so tired of seeing Black people brutalized on screen, but one thing it showcased in its own way is how hatred, coupled with power, can be the most terrifying and destructive force on the planet.
I watched it, so you don't have to, but the actors involved in this episode deserve a round of applause for tackling such a difficult storyline.
WE'RE STRONGER TOGETHER
In the end, "Welcome to Derry" was both captivating and heartbreaking. The kids are a joy to watch; the adults, too, and together they battle it out with one of the most classic movie monsters ever written. Say what you want about horror, but like any other genre, the best of it can shine a mirror at the world, reflecting realities that may be difficult for some to receive.
As real-life antagonists attempt to whitewash every aspect of our society, representation is and will always be important in entertainment. This series' diversity is a powerful storytelling vehicle that adds new layers of depth, complexity, and relatability to the terror awaiting the residents of Derry.
It also illustrated that when faced with a formidable antagonist of any kind, we are all stronger together.
And that's on my boy Rich Santos (IYKYK).
The season 1 finale of "IT: Welcome to Derry" aired on December 14. Binge-watch the entire season now on HBO Max.