If you enjoy the new HBO Max series, you’ll want to watch the 2019 film Doctor Sleep soon. It plays a key role in the show’s storyline, but it will no longer be available to stream on HBO Max after the new year. Directed by Mike Flanagan, it’s considered a hidden gem by many fans.
The horror film Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining and based on a novel by Stephen King, will be removed from Netflix on January 1, 2026. Starring Ewan McGregor, the movie has been well-received, earning a ‘Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 78% approval score from critics and an 89% audience score.
While Doctor Sleep didn’t perform well at the box office, earning only $72.3 million globally on a $45 million budget, it’s significant for those excited about Welcome to Derry. This HBO Max series, which came out in October, is a prequel to the It movies (It and It: Chapter 2), and it actually has a link to the events in Doctor Sleep.
Dick Hallorann, a character originally featured in Stephen King’s 1977 novel The Shining and later in Doctor Sleep, has a significant role in Welcome to Derry. Carl Lumbly portrayed Hallorann in Doctor Sleep, while Chris Chalk takes on the role in Welcome to Derry. The character is also referenced in King’s 1986 novel, IT.
The Doctor Sleep – Welcome to Derry Connection
In the novel, Mike Hanlon’s father mentions a young cook working for the Army while remembering a famous fire at a place called The Black Spot. The character of Hallorann was further developed in Doctor Sleep, and now, in Welcome to Derry, readers are learning even more about his past.
Danny is deeply affected by what happens at the Overlook Hotel, especially after meeting a ghost that continues to follow him. He talks with Hallorann, who shares a similar experience from his own past – after his grandfather passed away, a ghost haunted him until his grandmother taught him how to defend himself. Hallorann gives Danny a metal box, explaining that he can create a similar one in his mind to contain the scariest things he will ever face.
In the third episode of Welcome to Derry, Major Hanlon and Captain Russo search the woods by helicopter while Hallorann uses his psychic abilities to find It. He connects with the location and enters Pennywise’s mind, alerting It to the danger he poses. Episodes four and five of Welcome to Derry reveal further connections to the story of Doctor Sleep.
The show IT: Welcome to Derry is currently the most popular title on HBO Max in the US, according to FlixPatrol. A new episode will be available on December 7th. If you want to watch Doctor Sleep on Netflix, you’ll have until January 1, 2026, as it will no longer be available after that date.
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2025-12-04 21:37