Stephen King’s Secret Game Changer in HBO’s Derry Series – You Won’t Believe It!

Created by Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, who had previously adapted Stephen King’s novel for the big screen, the series It: Welcome to Derry is a smashing hit for HBO Max. With an average of 15 million viewers per episode, the series is officially among the most popular “first seasons” in the platform’s history, according to Deadline.

Among these numerous viewers, how many have noticed this seemingly insignificant detail that repeatedly appears on the screen, episode after episode? What if we told you that It: Welcome to Derry actually tells an entirely different story: where a cosmic turtle is the main character?

The clue: a lot of turtles.

This absurd theory originates from a valid observation: there are many turtles in Welcome to Derry, and they appear at specific points in the plot.

First, there’s Lilly’s piece of jewelry given to her by Matty shortly before he vanished. A gesture of affection that deeply touches the young girl, wrongly considered mentally unstable by her parents. As the episodes progress, this piece of jewelry becomes a symbol of the bond that connects Lilly to her group of friends, without whom she would never have been able to recover (nor face the threat of “It”).

Several episodes also feature a character deeply rooted in American imagination: Bert the Turtle. A cartoon character, Bert was used as government propaganda to educate young people about the dangers of a Russian nuclear attack. Here, we see him in a school as a mascot educating students about the “correct actions to take” in case of an attack. Once again, the turtle symbolizes protection against a threat greater than oneself.

Finally, in the 4th episode of the series, as the origins of It are revealed and the solution to contain it is put in place, the tool used is located (you guessed it): inside a turtle’s shell. Once again, the turtle serves as a shield against the creature and a means to combat it.

The Maturin Theory

All these elements put together suggest a theory unique to the series: the turtle could be a symbol of protection against the evil clown. An amusing analysis based on hidden details and nods, but it takes on a whole new dimension when connected to the mythology of Stephen King’s novels, where a giant cosmic turtle named Maturin indeed exists.

This legendary turtle character is a positive cosmic god who supposedly created the world we live in by vomiting it up one day when he was sick. A mortal enemy of “It”, he sporadically intervenes in our reality to aid humans in eliminating the creature, and generally, evil entities that seek to unbalance the universe.

Well-known among Stephen King fans, Maturin is mentioned several times in his work (It, 22/11/63) and particularly in his book series The Dark Tower, where he is one of the ancient guardians.

Connected universes?

The Maturin theory thus implies the existence of a multiverse unique to Stephen King’s stories, which are interconnected. A relatively plausible theory, reinforced by the presence in Welcome to Derry of the character Dick Halloran, the famous medium from The Shining.

If all these turtles are indeed hints of Maturin’s presence, it would mean that the series created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti is just the start of a story far larger than we initially thought. Is a huge cosmic plot in tribute to Stephen King unfolding before our eyes? We’ll be paying close attention to the upcoming episodes!

It: Welcome to Derry is available on HBO Max, with a new episode every Monday.