Stephen King's Castle Rock miniseries truly only references two major stories within the Stephen King Universe despite the fictional town being the setting for a bunch of his works; here's every Stephen King story Castle Rock missed out on. Series creators Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomasen made quite a big undertaking for themselves when they tried to showcase every Stephen King book based in Castle Rock, Maine. After all, there are around 15 Stephen King stories based in Castle Rock alone, with another 22 that reference the town. Shaw and Thomasen did their best to give a nod to many of King's books, including some of his more famous short stories and novellas. However, there were a lot of references that Castle Rock was missing.
Castle Rock season 1 mainly followed Henry Deaver (André Holland) and became a fan favorite after featured IT cast member Bill Skarsgård (who played Pennywise), was introduced as The Kid/The Angel at Shawshank Prison. Indie darling Melanie Lynskey also made an appearance as Molly Strand, the telepathic owner of M. Strand & Associates Real Estate. Finally, prolific actress Sissy Spacek returned to the Stephen King Universe, though not as her titular role of Carrie White from Carrie, but rather, as Ruth Deaver (Henry's estranged mother). Castle Rock season 2 took audiences by surprise when the story flipped to Annie Wilkes' (Lizzie Caplan) origins, and the series was then promptly canceled by Hulu.
With the latest 2021 release of Stephen King's Billy Summers novel, audiences are attempting to ingratiate themselves back into his world. There's plenty of media for viewers to choose from, especially film every Stephen King movie and TV show has a different atmosphere. However, those that wish to fully immerse themselves into Stephen Kings' twisted works could've had it all if Castle Rock wasn't canceled. Here's every Stephen King story that Castle Rock missed out on.
The Dead Zone
The killer Frank Dodd is referenced in Castle Rock by Molly, who resides in what used to be his home. She often uses this as fodder for her real estate career, especially while trying to sell Warden Lacy's house to potential clients. The story of the infamous Castle Rock serial killer is told in Stephen King's book The Dead Zone. The novel follows clairvoyant detective Johnny Smith as he investigates the grisly town murders. While Stephen King's script wasn't used for The Dead Zone movie, screenwriter Jeffrey Boam did a decent job capturing the spirit of the novel for the David Cronenberg film.
Cujo
Cujo is referenced in Castle Rock, season 1 episode 2 "Habeus Corpus". When Henry goes through a couple of articles, one of the headlines audiences are made privy to is a piece on a rabid dog working its way through town. While an obvious reference to the famous Stephen King novel - which is also based in Castle Rock - it would've been interesting to see the story of Cujo the St. Bernard on-screen instead of briefly reading about it. The tragic ending to Stephen King's book is left somewhat open-ended for the lives of Donna Trenton and the Cambers, which Castle Rock could've taken advantage of.
Uncle Otto’s Truck
Grouped in Stephen King's short story collection Skeleton Crew, Uncle Otto's Truck follows the tale of a derelict truck owned by Otto Schenck and George McCutcheon. Otto murders George by crushing him underneath the truck and then his sanity slowly dissolves. Otto's nephew later finds him drowned by oil with a spark plug jammed in his throat. The story of Uncle Otto's Truck is nowhere to be found or even referenced in Castle Rock. While it is a shorter piece, the tale is set in Castle Rock, Maine and, surprisingly, Castle Rock didn't at least give the Stephen King book a nod.
Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut
Mrs. Todd's Shortcut is another terrifying Stephen King short story that didn't make the cut in Castle Rock. Stephen King's book is a sci-fi horror piece focused on an elderly man named Homer who decides to take Mrs. Todd on for one of her famed shortcuts. Unfortunately for Homer, her directions take them through some sort of strange wormhole where they encounter bizarre unearthly creatures and somehow become younger as they drive along. Like Uncle Otto's truck, Mrs. Todd's Shortcut didn't get so much as a mention in the Castle Rock TV show.
Gramma
Stephen King is a huge fan of H.P. Lovecraft, and that's extremely evident in his short story Gramma. The Stephen King piece got its own movie adaptation in the form of 2014's Mercy. Gramma follows 11-year old George Bruckner as he assists in taking care of his elderly grandmother while his mother Ruth must go out of town. Gramma dies under George's watch, but it turns out she's a witch and she easily rises from the grave. It's implied in the end that Gramma possesses George and her spirit lives on through him. Many of Stephen King's books didn't make it into Castle Rock, Gramma being one of them.
Nona
Nona is one of Stephen King's more bizarre tales that could've easily been added into the Castle Rock series. Nona is featured in the short story collection Skeleton Crew and is an essential read for any King fan. It follows an unnamed prisoner recounting the tale of a first date gone horribly wrong with a mysterious woman named Nona. The inmate admits to convincing Nona to kill a couple of innocent bystanders, but by the end, she transforms into a horrifying rat creature. King doesn't make it wholly clear if Nona is real or rather a figment of the inmate's insanity.
The Dark Half
Sheriff Alan Pangborn (Scott Glenn) is the only reference that Castle Rock makes to Stephen King's book The Dark Half. George Romero adapted The Dark Half into a movie of the same name that was released in 1993. The book is highly regarded and The Dark Half inspired movies like Malignant while also getting its own adventure video game. Stephen King's book follows writer Thad Beaumont as he has an elaborate mock funeral for his own pen name George Stark, complete with an epitaph. However, George rises from the grave as a physical entity and Sheriff Pangborn comes to realize that Thad had an absorbed twin that became a malevolent spirit. Since Sheriff Pangborn was a character on Castle Rock, it's odd that the series didn't include any of his supernatural tales.
The Sun Dog
Stephen King's novella The Sun Dog is referenced through the character of Pop Merrill (Tim Robbins) in Castle Rock season 2. The events of The Sun Dog are similar to a gag that Stephen King's IT villain Pennywise pulls when Beverly and the boys are watching a slideshow in the garage. The novella tells the story of Kevin Delevan who takes a Polaroid camera to Pop Merrill's junk shop to get it fixed. The camera takes pictures of an evil otherworldly dog and eventually explodes in Pop's hands burning him fatally. Pop Merrill is a central character in Castle Rock season 2, and the story of The Sun Dog would've given him a fitting end.
Needful Things
Needful Things is arguably one of Stephen King's most tension-building books as mysterious things begin happening around Castle Rock after Leland Gaunt's oddities shop opens on Main Street. Stephen King's book Needful Things is referenced in Rick and Morty and Stranger Things. Castle Rock season 2 gives a shoutout to Needful Things with the characters Ace Merrill (Paul Sparks), who in the novel is a minor antagonist, and Sheriff Pangborn. The events of Needful Things must've been transpiring in the background as in Castle Rock season 1, the devils' dubious shop of oddities is referenced in Deaver's newspaper. It would've been nice to see the bully Ace Merrill get his if Castle Rock chose to follow the story.
Geralds Game
Mike Flanagan's movie adaptation of Gerald's Game stuck pretty closely to the Stephen King thriller novel with a few slight changes from the source material. While Gerald's Game doesn't technically take place in Castle Rock, the book is referred to through both the way that Joy ties up Annie in Castle Rock season 2 and the angry dog motif's peppered throughout the series. In the novel, Castle Rock is mentioned because of the events of Needful Things which are said to have taken place a year prior. While the Gerald's Game movie adaptation only got moderate reviews, Castle Rock had a chance to give the story a bit of spotlight but for some reason chose to forgo it.
It Grows on You
Stephen King's short story It Grows on You doesn't have any film or television adaptations as of yet, but it should be because it tackles the important subject of molestation among young men. The piece is meant to be an epilogue of sorts to Needful Things and is featured in the Nightmares & Dreamscapes short story collection. It Grows on You chronicles several bizarre events that occur within an infamous house in Castle Rock. The house seems to build and take on a life of its' own as new wings are mysteriously added and based on the horrific events that happen there. Castle Rock season 1 and season 2 made no mention of It Grows on You and the story is yet to be told on the screen.
Premium Harmony
Premium Harmony is a novella that takes place over the course of a few hours and could've easily slid into the Castle Rock narrative. Stephen King's book is a part of The Bazaar of Bad Dreams short story collection and follows the events of the egocentric Ray Burkett, his wife Mary, and their dog Biznezz. The sad tale ends with both Mary and Biznezz dead at a convenience store and Ray displaying an odd mixture of feelings over Mary's heart attack and Biznezz's neglect.
Drunken Fireworks
There's no hide nor hair of the novella Drunken Fireworks found in Castle Rock seasons 1 and 2. There's no movie adaptation on the screens of Stephen King's short story as of yet, though Rubicon Entertainment is producing a film starring James Franco that's currently in development. Drunken Fireworks is told in the form of a police statement given by Alden McCausland. The story covers a friendly fireworks competition started between neighbors, only for it to ends in full Stephen King fashion with a horrific disaster. Considering that The Bazaar of Bad Dreams short story is getting its own movie adaptation with a popular film star, Castle Rock should've taken the chance to tell the story first.
Elevation
Stephen King's story Elevation doesn't seem to fit with some of his other short stories, though it does include a mysterious disease and some lessons about bigotry. The Castle Rock-set Stephen King story follows Scott Carey as he inexplicably begins to rapidly lose weight, despite being completely healthy at first glance. He tries to navigate the disease with his doctor and at the same time becomes involved with a lesbian couple who are trying to open a restaurant in the midst of some townies' grievances. Elevation doesn't make the cut for Hulu's Castle Rock, but it would've been an interesting Stephen King story to throw into the mix.
‘Salem’s Lot
Like Gerald's Game, 'Salem's Lot isn't technically set in Castle Rock, but the Castle Rock tv show was begging to tell the story when Jerusalem's Lot was introduced in Castle Rock season 2. 'Salem's Lot is one of Stephen King's most famous books and it's referenced in a myriad of television shows and movies. Currently the show Chapelwaite is chronicling the vampiric events of 'Salem's Lot though Castle Rock could've explored what happened after the ending. There's a year-long gap between when Ben Mears leaves the town and comes back to burn it down. At the time of Castle Rock's release, audiences weren't aware of the smash hit that Midnight Mass would turn out to be, therefore Castle Rock's exclusion of 'Salem's Lot can be forgiven for now.
Bag of Bones
One of Stephen King's favorite protagonists is that of the struggling writer, and Bag of Bones' protagonist is no different. The bestseller got its own adaptation in 2011, starring Pierce Brosnan and Annabeth Gish. Stephen King's novel isn't set in Castle Rock, however that hasn't stopped the series from skipping towns before as neither is the Shawshank Penitentiary. Bag of Bones hasn't gotten the same attention as other movie adaptations like Pet Sematary or The Shining, but it ranks high among some of Stephen King's best books. The thread that holds Castle Rock and Bag of Bones together is the Juniper Hill mental institution. In Castle Rock season 1 it's suggested that The Kid should be taken to Juniper Hill, and if that secondary location were used Castle Rock could've had plenty of more stories for seasons to come.