With season 2 of IT: Welcome to Derry on the horizon, the HBO prequel has a unique opportunity to explore the complex relationship between Pennywise and the cosmic entity Maturin the Turtle, a key element of Stephen King's lore often overlooked.

Expanding King's Universe

The series has already hinted at the broader scope of King's horror by alluding to Pennywise's non-linear perception of time, suggesting a willingness to delve into the novel's more ambitious concepts. The show’s successful first season established a tone that should allow season 2 to finally address the cosmic horror of Maturin and Pennywise’s relationship head-on, expanding the universe beyond the confines of Derry.

Maturin: The Cosmic Creator

Stephen King’s novels are renowned for their memorable monsters, but his imaginative fictional universe extends beyond villains. The original novel provides a backstory for Pennywise that features Maturin, a colossal cosmic turtle responsible for creating the reality the Losers Club inhabit. Maturin vomited up the entire universe eons ago, being an ancient, tired entity at the time.

Maturin rarely interacts with humans, but aided the Losers Club by appearing to a young Bill Denbrough during the 1958 Ritual of Chud.

The Brothers' Disdain

The relationship between Maturin and Pennywise is central to King's cosmology, a battle of cosmic proportions playing out on a human scale. They refer to each other as “Brothers,” yet display obvious disdain. Pennywise even gleefully mentions the turtle’s death – choking on a galaxy – during a later confrontation with the Losers Club.

Season 1's Success & Future Potential

IT: Welcome to Derry’s first season successfully incorporated esoteric aspects of King's narrative. A sequence featuring the town’s indigenous elders sharing stories of Pennywise’s earliest attacks, and Pennywise referencing future events, demonstrated the show’s willingness to explore complex themes.

This hinted at the cosmic scope of King’s story and proved the prequel’s longer runtime allows for a more thorough exploration of the novel’s ideas. Season 2 shouldn’t shy away from finally addressing the cosmic turtle by bringing in Pennywise’s benevolent brother.