Hulu’s Stephen King anthology series Castle Rock may not be adapting any particular story, but its cast includes several faces from past King movies. Castle Rock is of course King’s most often used fictional Maine location, ahead of fellow fictional locales Derry and Jerusalem’s Lot. Lots of novels and short stories have been set there, or included mention of the town, and it’s a vital part of King’s sprawling literary universe. Classics like Stand by Me, Cujo, and Needful Things all call Castle Rock home.
In 2018, Hulu gave Castle Rock the spotlight in the form of a series based on and set in King’s universe, but mostly featuring new stories and characters. Two seasons of Castle Rock have aired so far, receiving wildly positive reviews from critics, and mostly good notices from King’s constant readers. It’s unclear at present if Castle Rock season 3 will happen, but showrunners Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason have made it clear that should a renewal occur, they have a plan for where to take things next.
One of the fun aspects of Castle Rock for longtime fans of King-based movies is the large amount of recognizable actors from prior King adaptations. They’re not playing the same characters, but just having them there lends Castle Rock a certain sense of King continuity. Here’s the full list.
Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise the Clown in IT & IT Chapter Two)
Swedish actor Bill Skarsgard plays mysterious Shawshank prisoner The Kid in Castle Rock season 1, and returned for a couple guest appearances in season 2. Skarsgard cemented his place in Stephen King history with his excellent portrayals of Pennywise the Clown in both 2017’s IT and 2019’s IT Chapter Two. Many wondered if he could emerge from the considerable shadow of Tim Curry’s 1990 version, and while some would argue which is better, most would agree that Skarsgard made the role his own. Skarsgard’s Pennywise was much more outwardly threatening, and at times came off like a starving animal that couldn’t spend even a single moment longer without chowing down on a child. He still has a sense of humor, but now it’s much more sadistic, such as when he mocks Georgie’s death.
Melanie Lynskey (Rachel Wheaton in Rose Red)
Kiwi actress Melanie Lynskey plays Molly Strand, a Castle Rock resident with telepathic and empathic abilities, during season 1. Lynskey played Rachel Wheaton in 2002 miniseries Rose Red, which was a huge ratings hit, and first got her noticed by American audiences. Rachel is the older sister and caretaker of a young girl named Annie, who possesses psychic powers in a manner similar to Carrie White. Annie is one of a group of psychically gifted people that Dr. Joyce Reardon brings to Rose Red, an infamously haunted house, in the hopes of their powers stirring up supernatural phenomena that she can then scientifically document. The plot seems to be an intentional homage to Shirley Jackson’s classic The Haunting of Hill House book.
Sissy Spacek (Carrie White in Carrie)
In Castle Rock season 1, Sissy Spacek plays Ruth Deaver, adoptive mother to protagonist Henry Deaver, played by Andre Holland. The pair are estranged, but Ruth ends up revealing vital information about Castle Rock’s past to her son, even if her dementia issues mean she isn’t always aware she’s doing so. Ruth passes away before the end of season 1. Spacek of course starred in the original Stephen King adaptation, 1976’s Carrie, directed by Brian De Palma. Spacek earned raves for her performance, eventually receiving an Oscar nomination, as did her onscreen mom Piper Laurie. Carrie has since been adapted for the screen several more times, but most consider Spacek’s version the definitive portrayal of the character, and De Palma’s film the definitive adaptation.
Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption)
In Castle Rock season 2, Tim Robbins plays Reginald “Pop” Merrill, leader of the town’s local crime family. Now dying, Pop is worried about who will take up his mantle, as his four adopted children are all vying for a piece of the pie. Robbins starred as possibly innocent prisoner Andy Dufresne in 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption, directed by frequent King adapter Frank Darabont. The Shawshank Redemption is often cited as not only the greatest King adaptation, but one of the greatest films of all time, period. Many fan theories posit that despite his claims, Andy was guilty of the murders he was convicted of, but at the end of the day, the treatment he endures in Shawshank makes it impossible to root against him.
Terry O’Quinn (Sheriff Joe Haller in Silver Bullet)
In Castle Rock season 1, Terry O’Quinn recurs as Dale Lacy, warden of Shawshank prison. Shortly before the prison is handed over to a private company, Lacy kills himself in perhaps the worst way possible: decapitation. He had been keeping The Kid secretly locked up for decades, believing him to be the source of the evil pervading Castle Rock. A prolific character actor, O’Quinn previously played lawman Sheriff Joe Haller in 1985’s Silver Bullet, an adaptation of King’s Cycle of the Werewolf. Haller does his best to bring down Reverend Lowe for his murders, but refuses to believe he’s a werewolf until it’s too late. O’Quinn is best known for playing the enigmatic John Locke on Lost.
Chosen Jacobs (Young Mike Hanlon in IT & IT Chapter Two)
19-year-old actor Chosen Jacobs recurred as Wendell Deaver, Henry Deaver’s son, in Castle Rock season 1. Stephen King fans will remember Jacobs from IT, where he played young Mike Hanlon. He later returned for flashback scenes in IT Chapter Two, with the adult version of Mike being played by former Old Spice spokesman Isaiah Mustafa. Mike’s role was changed up a bit for IT‘s theatrical adaptation, as kid Mike was no longer the resident Derry historian of the Losers’ Club, and adult Mike lied to his friends about the Ritual of Chud’s ability to kill Pennywise. Jacobs’ career is still pretty early on, but he’s already racked up roles on God Friended Me, Hawaii Five-0, and the recent Quibi series When the Streetlights Go On.
