With DC superheroes more popular than ever on the small screen, it only makes sense for other areas of DC Comics' vast library to get more attention. Swamp Thing, one of the most atypical comic book heroes is heading back to TV for a new live-action series that will make its 2019 debut on DC's newly branded streaming service, DC Universe. And what's more, The Conjuring's James Wan is on board as an executive producer.
DC Universe has put in a straight-to-series order for Swamp Thing, which will be an hourlong drama that presumably has some horror-based elements threaded into the story. The logline will be one familiar to fans of the aesthetically challenged character. CDC researcher Abby Arcane returns home to Houma, Louisiana in order to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus. She has a short-lived relationship with fellow scientist Alec Holland, who gets tragically killed. His death might not have been a permanent one, though, as Abby and others soon learn that the swamp they're investigating is home to many mystifying secrets that can both amaze and terrify. Unsurprisingly, the powers that be have their own ideas for how to use the swamp's powerful properties.
Swamp Thing was created in 1971 by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson as part of a one-off story for the comic House of Secrets, though the character soon rose to fame on his own standalone merits, especially as society got more eco-conscious in the 1970s and 1980s. Later runs from storytelling geniuses Alan Moore and Brian K. Vaughan further cemented the character's spot as a fan-favorite. Bringing this modern-day iteration to life will be former Ash vs. Evil Dead showrunner and comic writing vet Mark Verheiden, who is teaming with Gary Dauberman, co-screenwriter for both IT films, as well as a writer on all the Conjuring spinoffs, including the soon-to-be three Annabelle movies and The Nun. I'm guessing there's some connective tissue there with James Wan, and we're hoping for something that deals equally in spooky weirdness and fully fleshed-out characters.
Below is the promo image that was released along with this exciting announcement.
This definitely won't be the first time Swamp Thing makes his way off the comic book page. Wes Craven directed the cult 1982 film simply called Swamp Thing, which was followed by a less successful sequel seven years later. The character then made the leap to television in 1990 for the USA series of the same name, which lasted for three seasons and featured the film's Dick Durock reprising the role of the hero. In 1991, a Swamp Thing animated series brought the ecological fun to kids, but it only lasted for five episodes. Other animated versions of Swamp Thing have appeared in several of the Justice League-oriented animated series on Cartoon Network, as well as the Justice League Dark feature. (And yes, he also made a swampy splash in videos games.) But this new series could easily be his biggest and best non-comic debut yet.
And just as a casually delivered final thought: cast Ron Perlman as Swamp Thing!!!
For now, Swamp Thing doesn't yet have a planned release date, but it is set to debut on the streaming platform DC Universe in 2019. Until then, check out our rundown of all the upcoming DC Universe projects, as well as our summer premiere schedule.
