Swamp Thing
One of DC’s most popular supernatural characters, Swamp Thing, might not have the name recognition of the Justice League, but he’s still no stranger to the screen. There were a couple of movies starring the swamp-dwelling creature back in the 1980s – the first was even directed by horror legend Wes Craven – and a short-lived TV show that ran for a single season in 1990. Now, the Louisianan anti-hero is getting another shot at live-action in this newly-announced series.
Seeing as the long-touted Justice League Dark movie has hit a brick wall, it seems that Warner Bros. Television have got the all-clear to move ahead on this alternate project starring Swamp Thing. That said, it does come with a DCEU filmmaker attached. Aquaman‘s James Wan is on hand to executive produce, so hopefully the Saw director will bring some of his horror expertise to the show.
Here’s how the official synopsis describes it:
When CDC researcher Abby Arcane returns to her childhood home of Houma, Louisiana, in order to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, she develops a surprising bond with scientist Alec Holland — only to have him tragically taken from her. But as powerful forces descend on Houma, intent on exploiting the swamp’s mysterious properties for their own purposes, Abby will discover that the swamp holds mystical secrets, both horrifying and wondrous — and the potential love of her life may not be dead after all.
Swamp Thing’s story has changed a lot over the years, but this sounds like a faithful adaptation of his traditional origins. In particular, it seems the series will focus on the man formally known as Alec Holland’s ties to the Arcane family, through his love interest Abby and her father, mad scientist Anton Arcane, who becomes Swamp Thing’s nemesis.
Mark Verheiden and Wan’s frequent collaborator, Gary Dauberman, are set to serve as the showrunners. That’s pretty much all we know about the series for now, other than that it’s pencilled in for a release sometime in 2019. Still, it’s good to learn that DC Universe will cater to the horror side of things as well as providing some more mainstream stuff.
