Hanlon Family Tree In ‘IT’ & ‘Welcome to Derry’: Mike’s Parents & Relatives Revealed (Pictures)

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The new prequel series, IT: Welcome to Derry, is closely linked to the 2017 IT movie, particularly through characters in the Hanlon family. Set in 1962 – 27 years before the first film – the series follows another period of terror caused by the murderous entity known as “It.” IT: Welcome to Derry debuted on HBO Max on October 26, 2025, and is being made by the original IT filmmakers, Andy and Barbara Muschietti, with a completely new cast.

As a huge fan of Stephen King’s IT, I’m really excited about this new HBO Max show! It’s set in Derry, the same town from the books and movies, which is awesome. And it looks like the Hanlon family is going to play a big part – if you’ve read IT or seen the films, you’ll definitely recognize that name! It’s cool to see those familiar connections being made.

How Mike, Leroy & Will Hanlon Are Related in IT: Welcome To Derry Family Tree

Leroy Hanlon

A key new character in IT: Welcome to Derry is Major Leroy Hanlon, an Air Force pilot portrayed by Jovan Adepo. He moves his family to Derry after being recruited by Colonel Shaw (James Remar) to fly a B-52 as part of a larger operation. Beyond his piloting abilities, Leroy’s unique understanding of fear makes him a crucial member of Colonel Shaw’s team and the Derry mission.

Readers of Stephen King’s IT will recognize Leroy Hanlon, the ancestor of Mike Hanlon, who appears briefly in the 2017 film adaptation. Played by Steven Williams, Leroy is portrayed as a stern and unforgiving sheep farmer who pushes his grandson to be brave and face his anxieties.

Leroy played a key role in the Loser’s Club solving the mystery of IT back in 1989. Mike shares with his friends that his grandfather believes the town is under a curse, connected to a sinister force that preys on the people of Derry. This likely connects to what Leroy went through with Pennywise, and will be further explained in the upcoming story, IT: Welcome to Derry.

Charlotte Hanlon

Charlotte Hanlon, portrayed by Taylour Paige, is married to Leroy and is Will’s mother – making her Mike’s future grandmother. She doesn’t appear in the story 27 years later, so her fate is unknown, but the movie IT: Welcome to Derry might explain what happened to her.

In 1962, Charlotte was different from most people in Derry. She bravely spoke out against bullying, which upset many of her neighbors. Her strong sense of fairness put her at odds with the town, especially given the racial tensions present in America during the 1960s.

Will Hanlon

In IT: Welcome to Derry, Will (played by Blake Cameron James) is a young boy who joins the latest version of the Losers Club. At school, he’s seen as different because he loves to read and study science. But he quickly connects with other kids who feel like outsiders, Rich and Ronnie.

Will later becomes the father of Mike, who will eventually join the Losers Club. However, Mike has already passed away by the time the main story begins in 1989.

The story of Will Hanlon’s death differs between the movie and the book. In the films, Will and his wife die in a house fire, deeply affecting Mike and giving the evil entity Pennywise a way to torment future generations of the Hanlon family. In Stephen King’s novel, Will’s death is connected to a racist attack—the burning of a nightclub for Black veterans in Derry. However, the movie IT: Chapter Two suggests a different cause, implying that Mike’s parents were struggling with drug addiction and died in a fire related to their habits.

The upcoming series, Welcome to Derry, will probably explore the story of the Black Spot, meaning we’ll likely learn more about what happened during that event and the Hanlon family’s involvement.

Jessica Hanlon

We haven’t met Will’s future wife, Jessica Hanlon, or Mike’s mother yet in IT: Welcome to Derry. Will appears to have a crush on a classmate named Ronnie, but their connection doesn’t seem likely to develop further unless the show deviates from the original story.

In the story of It, Jessica Hanlon is only known to have died in a house fire alongside Will. This fire left her son, Mike Hanlon, orphaned and raised by his grandfather.

Mike Hanlon

In Andy Muschietti’s IT movies, Mike Hanlon is a key member of the Losers Club. Chosen Jacobs portrays him as a child in the 2017 film, while Isaiah Mustafa plays the adult version 27 years later in IT: Chapter Two.

Mike is deeply affected by two traumatic experiences: a childhood attack by birds, and the loss of his parents. These events are hinted at in the novel IT: Welcome to Derry.

Mike learned about the terrifying creature known as It from his grandfather, giving him prior knowledge in the first movie. He’s also unique among his friends, as he stayed in Derry after 1989 – a decision linked to his family’s long history with the town. The new book, IT: Welcome to Derry, delves into this history through the stories of characters like Leroy, Charlotte, and Will.

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2025-11-04 05:41