IT star Bill Skarsgard is set to play an inmate in Shawshank Prison on the upcoming Hulu series Castle Rock. Formerly best known for starring in the Netflix horror series Hemlock Grove, the 27-year-old Skarsgard rocketed to superstardom this fall for his portrayal of iconic villain Pennywise the Dancing Clown in director Andy Muschietti's blockbuster theatrical adaptation of Stephen King's gargantuan novel. A smash with both critics and audiences, IT has so far grossed more than $650 million worldwide on a budget of only $35 million.

Castle Rock is of course also based on the work of King, although it's not an adaptation of any particular story. Instead, Castle Rock is an original drama set within the established King multiverse, and will feature references and ties to famous King tales. The titular town is a recurring setting for King's fiction, appearing in stories like The Dead Zone, Cujo, and Needful Things.

Related: Castle Rock Teaser Trailer: Stephen King Comes to Hulu

While the name of Skarsgard's Castle Rock character has yet to be revealed, the actor did recently tell Flickering Myth that said character will be an inmate at Shawshank, the prison that memorably served as the setting for King's novella Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. That novella was part of King's 1982 collection Different Seasons, and was later adapted into director Frank Darabont's Oscar-nominated film The Shawshank Redemption.

Castle Rock Teaser

Plot details on Castle Rock are still being kept fairly close to the vest, but it has at least been confirmed that Skarsgard's prisoner is connected in some way to Henry Deaver (Andre Holland, American Horror Story), a death-row lawyer who returns to town in order to work on a case involving a young boy. Considering both Deaver's profession and Skarsgard's incarcerated status, it seems likely that Skarsgard's character is one of Deaver's former clients, presumably one he failed to exonerate.

Castle Rock doesn't yet have a firm premiere date, but Hulu plans to debut the series sometime in 2018. In addition to Skarsgard and Holland, Castle Rock's stacked cast so far includes Melanie Lynskey, Jane Levy (Don't Breathe), Sissy Spacek, Scott Glenn (Daredevil), and Terry O'Quinn. Like Skarsgard, Lynskey (Rose Red), Spacek (Carrie), and O'Quinn (Silver Bullet) all have prior experience in King adaptations.

More: J.J. Abrams & Lost’s Terry O’Quinn Reunite for Hulu’s Castle Rock

Castle Rock premieres on Hulu in 2018.

Source: Flickering Myth