Get ready to cozy up with a blanket and a healthy dose of dread! December 2025 is shaping up to be one of Netflix’s biggest months ever for horror and thrills. We’re talking giant monsters, sinister influencers, classic ghosts, and more.
Speaking of dread, Stephen King fans, get ready! In addition to new releases and upcoming Stephen King projects, Netflix is adding one of the best King series, the Hulu Original “Castle Rock.”
Dustin Thomason and Sam Shaw developed this anthology. It is set in King’s famous fictional Maine town, the eerie location featured in Cujo and Needful Things. Plus, it’s executive-produced by J.J. Abrams (Bad Robot).
Bill Skarsgård stars in this dark series. Of course, we all know who Skarsgård is; he plays Pennywise in both the IT movies and the fantastic, nightmare-inducing series “Welcome to Derry,” which is now streaming on HBO. And we highly recommend that you do so.
A Brilliant and Brutal Series
“Castle Rock” is a psychological horror anthology series that weaves together themes, characters, and locations from Stephen King’s vast fictional world, particularly the dark history of the titular town in Maine.
The first season, which premiered in 2018, focuses on a death row attorney who returns to Castle Rock after an anonymous call summons him back to his hometown to investigate an enigmatic and silent inmate—Skarsgård’s character—found locked away beneath Shawshank Penitentiary. The entire series delves into the dark history and the community’s misfortunes.
The second season shifts the focus entirely. It serves as a prequel and origin story for King’s infamous character: Annie Wilkes. The season stars Lizzy Caplan as the younger version of Annie Wilkes, the psychologically unstable nurse from King’s novel Misery.
The Incredible Cast
The cast of “Castle Rock” and their characters from the Stephen King Universe:
André Holland: Henry Deaver – A death-row attorney who returns to Castle Rock after being called back to investigate “The Kid.”
Melanie Lynskey: Molly Strand – Henry’s childhood neighbor, a local real estate agent with severe psychic abilities and an unsettling history with Henry.
Bill Skarsgård: The Kid – A mysterious, silent inmate discovered locked in Shawshank Penitentiary. His presence seems to be the source of the town’s current Misery.
Sissy Spacek: Ruth Deaver – Henry’s adoptive mother, suffering from dementia and struggling to recall the traumatic past events of the town.
Jane Levy: Jackie Torrance – A local horror enthusiast and budding writer who is the niece of Jack Torrance from The Shining.
Scott Glenn: Alan Pangborn –The retired, legendary Castle Rock sheriff ( featured in King’s novels The Dark Half and Needful Things).
Coming Soon
“Castle Rock” lands on Netflix on December 16. It is a must-see series that will keep you on the edge of your seat and chilled to the bone!
