Co-produced by J.J. Abrams and Stephen King, “Castle Rock” unfolds in the titular fictional town in Maine, a backdrop King introduced in his 1979 novel “The Dead Zone.” This locale has since become a recurring hub in King’s universe, linking other notorious settings such as Shawshank State Prison and Derry by their proximity to Castle Rock. Although King has crafted numerous fictional locales, Castle Rock remains a focal point in his literary landscape.

“Castle Rock” received an impressive 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences also awarding it a commendable 79% score. The series features a stellar cast with connections to past acclaimed Stephen King adaptations. Yet, despite its success, “Castle Rock” concluded after only two seasons—not due to the show’s content or ratings but rather due to corporate dynamics.

Each season of “Castle Rock” delves into unique narratives, weaving in characters with ties to King’s expansive body of work. The first season introduces a criminal lawyer named Henry Matthew Deaver (André Holland), an enigmatic inmate from Shawshank State Penitentiary known as The Kid (played by Bill Skarsgård, famed for his role as Pennywise), aspiring writer Diane Torrance (Jane Levy), who is related to “The Shining’s” Jack Torrance, a telepath named Molly Strand (Melanie Lynskey), and Henry’s estranged adoptive mother Ruth Deaver (Sissy Spacek, renowned for her role as Carrie in the film adaptation of King’s novel).

One of the production companies behind the show was Warner Bros. Television, which worked with Hulu a lot back in the 2010s. However, when HBO Max launched in 2020, the company’s priorities shifted and it was suddenly more focused on the WB-owned streamer. This spelled the end for “Castle Rock,” though it didn’t come as a surprise for those involved with the show: As reported by Deadline, the decision to wrap things up after two seasons was made long before Season 2 came to a close. “There were no expectations for a third installment,” the Hollywood trade confirmed.

Each season of “Castle Rock” follows a different set of characters, some of whom are linked to famous names from Stephen King’s oeuvre. Season 1 features a criminal attorney named Henry Matthew Deaver (André Holland), an inmate at Shawshank State Penitentiary known as The Kid (Pennywise actor Bill Skarsgård), an aspiring writer — and relative of “The Shining” protagonist Jack Torrance — named Diane Torrance (Jane Levy), a woman with telepathic and empathic abilities named Molly Strand (Melanie Lynskey), and Henry’s estranged adoptive mother Ruth Deaver (Sissy Spacek, who played Carrie in the Stephen King film of the same name).

Season 2 follows nurse Annie Wilkes (Lizzy Caplan) and her daughter Joy (Elsie Fisher), who become stranded in Castle Rock. “The Shawshank Redemption” star Tim Robbins plays mob boss Reginald “Pop” Merrill, with Paul Sparks playing his nephew John “Ace” Merrill, who is in line to take the reins of the family’s criminal empire. The Merrills clash with the local Somali community, which includes Abdi Howlwadaag (Barkhad Abdi) and Dr. Nadia Howlwadaag (Yusra Warsama), the medical director of the hospital in Jerusalem’s Lot. Both seasons feature talented actors who breathe life into King’s fictional town with their nuanced and committed performances.