Review Swamp Thing (2019)

Doctor Omega

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DC Universe & “Titans” Set Launch Dates


A September 15th launch date has been set for DC Universe, the new streaming service that will serve as the home of multiple new TV series based on DC Comics titles.

Original series like “Titans” will run on Fridays, with live-action shows like “Doom Patrol,” “Swamp Thing” and “Stargirl” also available at a later date along with new animated series like “Young Justice: Outsiders” and “Harley Quinn”. “Titans” will officially premiere on October 12th.
 

Doctor Omega

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Crystal Reed To Lead DC’s “Swamp Thing” Series


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“Teen Wolf” and “Gotham” actress Crystal Reed has scored the series female lead role of Abby Arcane in the upcoming pilot for the live-action “Swamp Thing” TV series at DC Universe. Filming on the pilot, which will be directed by “Underworld” filmmaker Len Wiseman, will take place this Fall in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The story follows CDC researcher Abby who returns to her childhood home of Houma, Louisiana, in order to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus. She develops a bond with scientist Alec Holland who is then tragically taken from her.

As powerful forces descend on Houma, intent on exploiting the swamp’s mysterious properties, Abby will discover it holds mystical secrets both horrifying and wondrous – and the potential love of her life may not be dead after all.

Mark Verheiden (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Gary Dauberman (“IT”) are attached to co-write the series and act as showrunners while Weisman will executive produce alongside “The Conjuring” director James Wan.
 

Doctor Omega

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“Swamp Thing” To Be A Hard R And Practical


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“Titans” is the first of the three commissioned live-action series for the DC Universe streaming service and has been in production for many months ahead of its debut on October 12th. “Doom Patrol” recently kicked off filming and is looking likely to have an early 2019 debut.

Lagging behind, but still very much on the way, is the new series adaptation of “Swamp Thing” which is still in the midst of casting ahead of filming beginning in the Fall. Writer Gary Dauberman (“The Nun,” “IT”) is working on the series alongside filmmakers James Wan (“The Conjuring”) and Len Wiseman (“Live Free or Die Hard”) and spoke with Slashfilm this week about their aims for the series.

First up, the creature itself which he confirms is a physical costume and says: “it’s going to look amazing and less of the ‘man in suit’ that you’ve seen in the movie and the other TV show”. That suggests a blend of practical and CG enhancement. He’s also made it very clear that Swamp Thing would have a hard R rating:

“We always set out to make Swamp Thing as hard R as we could and go graphic with the violence, with the adult themes and make it as scary as possible. Because we’re doing it through the DC streaming service, they really pushed us, although they didn’t have to push hard, for us to go as extreme as we could. We really took our inspiration from the Alan Moore run in Swamp Thing, this landmark I think run. Fans of that series will know it gets pretty weird and extreme and scary.”

The series certainly sounds like it’s aiming to match the tone of the comics. One thing it won’t be doing, at least not for now, is connecting itself with the other shows on the service. Dauberman says the opportunity is there but they’re not following through on it at this time:

“I think the opportunity is there if we want to [connect the series] but it’s not mandated. I think we could if, in the future, it organically works itself out to be that way. I haven’t discussed that with the guys from Titans and they haven’t discussed it with us.”

That’s in stark contrast to “Doom Patrol” which is using the fifth episode of “Titans” as a ‘backdoor pilot’ of sorts. No premiere date for the series has yet been set but it’s likely not until the late Spring or Summer next year.
 

Doctor Omega

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Derek Mears Sought For “Swamp Thing”


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Actor Derek Mears has reportedly been cast as Swamp Thing in the upcoming “Swamp Thing” series based on the comic title and set to launch next year on the DC Universe streaming service which launches this coming weekend.

Splash Report and Bloody Disgusting broke the news and say Meard will portray the creature version of the character, with another actor taking on the human guise Dr. Alec Holland.

A 6’5 actor and stuntman, Mears has extensive experience performing in heavy makeup and prosthetics, having played Jason Voorhees in the “Friday the 13th” reboot along with numerous creatures in films like “Sleepy Hollow” and “Men in Black II”.

Crystal Reed was recently cast as Abigail Arcane, the female lead in the series and a researcher who bonds with Alec while investigating a deadly swamp-borne virus. After Alec’s apparent demise, he is reborn as the Swamp Thing and the defender of the green before reuniting with Abigail. Maria Stein co-stars in the series.
 

Doctor Omega

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Jennifer Beals Joins “Swamp Thing” Cast


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Actress Jennifer Beals (“Taken: The Series,” “Flashdance”) has joined the cast of the upcoming “Swamp Thing” TV series adaptation at DC Universe.

Beals will play the role of Sheriff Lucilia Cable, a tough as nails and pragmatic cop whose fierce devotion to her son Matt is rivalled only by her sworn duty to serve and protect the town of Marais.

As the community she has dedicated her life to defending is beset by strange forces, she must double down in her efforts to safeguard everyone she holds dear.

Her casting follows on from that of Derek Mears as the creature and Crystal Reed as the show’s female lead. James Wan will be executive producing with Len Wiseman directing the pilot.

Mark Verheiden (“Battlestar Galactica”) and Gary Dauberman (“The Nun”) are attached to co-write the series and act as showrunners. The project will premiere in 2019.
 

Doctor Omega

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Will Patton Scores Key “Swamp Thing” Role


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Will Patton (“Halloween,” “Shots Fired”) has been cast in a major role opposite Crystal Reed in the streaming drama series “Swamp Thing” based on the DC comic title.

Written by Mark Verheiden and Gary Dauberman, the series follows Abby Arcane (Reed) as she investigates what appears to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana, but soon discovers that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets. When unexplainable and chilling horrors emerge from the murky marsh, no one is safe.

Patton plays the town’s most prominent businessman, Avery Sunderland. Projecting a benevolent veneer with good deeds always giving back to the community, underneath lies a ruthless determination to harness the power of the swamp for profit.

Verheiden, Dauberman, James Wan, Len Wiseman and Michael Clear produce the series for Warner Bros. Television with the project set to premiere in 2019 on the DC Universe digital subscription service. Wiseman will direct the pilot.
 

Doctor Omega

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Andy Bean & Derek Mears Are “Swamp Thing”


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Both the human and not-so-human forms of the titular creature of the DC Universe’s upcoming “Swamp Thing” TV series have been cast with Andy Bean (“Here and Now,” “IT: Chapter 2”) and the already announced 6’5 veteran stuntman and actor Derek Mears (“Friday the 13th”) taking on the main role.

The series follows Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) as she investigates what appears to be a deadly swamp-born virus in the small Louisiana town of Marais. She soon discovers that what lurks in the swamp is more sinister than meets the eye. Jennifer Beals, Will Patton, Virginia Madsen, and Maria Sten also star.

Bean plays Alec Holland, a passionate biologist who finds himself in nightmarish circumstances as he realizes that the bizarre disease affecting townspeople may have come as a result of his work in the swamp.

This discovery that leads him to confront dark swamp forces which swallow him up, only to emerge as the hero known as Swamp Thing (Mears) who struggles to hold onto his human identity. He quickly learns that he must embrace his new mutant form and defend the town against the perils of the swamp from whence he came.

Len Wiseman will direct the first episode which premieres in 2019. Wiseman will executive produce alongside acclaimed filmmaker James Wan.
 

Doctor Omega

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Swamp Thing
“Riverdale” and “Extant” actor Henderson Wade has scored a series-regular role in DC Universe’s “Swamp Thing” series. Wade plays Matt Cable, a Louisiana lawman who finds himself in dire straits when supernatural evil threatens the town he’s sworn to protect. He also had a childhood crush on Crystal Reed’s Abby Arcane character who serves as the series lead.
 

Doctor Omega

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Swamp Thing
Kevin Durand (“Lost,” “The Strain,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) has joined the cast of the DC Universe series “Swamp Thing” in the role of Jason Woodrue, the brilliant but abrasive scientist who becomes the villain Floronic Man. Crystal Reed, Derek Mears, Andy Bean and Jennifer Beals co-star in the series which has no release date at this time.
 

Doctor Omega

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Ziering Joins The “Swamp Thing” Cast


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Ian Ziering (“Sharknado,” “Beverly Hills 90210”) has joined the cast of the upcoming DC Universe series adaptation of the classic antihero “Swamp Thing”.

Ziering is set to play the recurring role of Daniel Cassidy, a former stuntman turned movie star after starring in the semi-popular role of the Blue Devil. Now missing his glory days, he heads towards his destiny of becoming the real-life superhero.

He joins a cast that includes Derek Mears as Swamp Thing, Andy Bean as Alec Holland, Will Patton as Avery Sutherland, Crystal Reed as Abby Arcane, Maria Sten as Liz Tremayne, Jeryl Prescott as Madame Xanadu, Jennifer Beals as Sheriff Lucilia Cable, Virginia Madsen as Maria Sunderland, Henderson Wade as Matt Cable and Kevin Durand as Jason Woodtrue/Floronic Man.

Len Wiseman (“Sleepy Hollow”) directs the pilot and executive produces with James Wan, Mark Verheiden and Gary Dauberman.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
Adrienne Barbeau Joins New “Swamp Thing”


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Legendary 1980s star Adrienne Barbeau, who was the lead human character in Wes Craven’s “Swamp Thing” film adaptation in 1982, will return for the upcoming TV series based on the DC Comics property.


Barbeau revealed the news in a tweet today, confirming her appearance in the James Wan-produced R-rated “Swamp Thing” series which will mark the third original series of the DC Universe streaming service following “Titans” and “Doom Patrol”. Specifics of what role she will play however were not revealed, nor how significant her part is.

Primarily based on Alan Moore’s run of the comics, the story centers on CDC researcher Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) who 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 (Andy Bean) only to have him tragically taken from her.

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.

Jennifer Beals, Virginia Madsen, Ian Ziering, Will Patton, Derek Mears, Kevin Durand, Henderson Wade, Jeryl Prescott and Maria Sten also star in the project which is being penned by Mark Verheiden (“Ash vs. Evil Dead”) and Gary Dauberman (“IT”). The series aims to premiere sometime this Summer.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
Current Constantine Wants In On “Swamp Thing”


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Welsh actor Matt Ryan, who has played the role of DC Comics staple John Constantine across at least three separate series including “Constantine,” “Arrow” and “Legends of Tomorrow,” wants to add another series to his belt.


The British, chain-smoking, trenchcoat-clad, bisexual paranomal investigator and demon hunter is a key part of the comics history of “Swamp Thing” that his appearance in the upcoming series for the DC Universe streaming service seems likely. So, when it does happen, Ryan wants that gig.

Appearing at Wizard World Cleveland recently (via ComicBook.com), Ryan said: “John Constantine was born in Swamp Thing. Eventually, he has to be on Swamp Thing, and I just hope it’s me… I’m still playing this role four years after Constantine was actually cancelled, so I must be doing something right.”

Impeding him is the fact the DC Universe series aren’t connected with The CW’s Arrow-verse shows, and this one in particular is also not connected to the other shows on the service including “Titans” or “Doom Patrol”.

Ryan has also voiced Constantine in two animated movies and an animated series. The new “Swamp Thing” series is based on Alan Moore’s run of the title which has a dark and mature tone.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
“Stargirl” was rumored to initially be premiering this Fall, but that slot will be going to the second season of “Titans” in the early Fall and the animated “Harley Quinn” series. Before that, we’re getting a Friday May 31st premiere of the James Wan-produced “Swamp Thing” series, and a July 2nd premiere of the return of “Young Justice: Outsiders”. Also the first season of Syfy’s “Krypton” will be available to stream as of April 5th on the service.
 

Doctor Omega

Member: Rank 10
“Swamp Thing” Series Shuts Down Amid Turmoil


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In unexpected news, production has reportedly been shut down early on the DC Universe original series “Swamp Thing,” the halt coming amidst talk of some major behind-the-scenes turmoil at the boutique streamer which only launched last October.


Star News Online and WECT News broke the news that the series was prematurely closing up shop with cast and crew members reportedly caught by surprise, getting news of the changes during filming on Tuesday night. The reaction on the set was apparently one of shock. The series was expected to film a thirteen episode run right through May up to its scheduled premiere date on May 31st.

The local outlet also reports that crew members were told the project would wrap production on episode ten, three episodes early. In fact The Playlist adds that the tenth episode will be rewritten as the final episode providing a ‘satisfying conclusion’ for the series and turning what was all set to be an ongoing series into a limited event series. Several more days of reshoots are also expected for previously filmed episodes to help make the adjustment.

One of the show’s cast, Virginia Madsen who plays antagonist Maria Sunderland, has spoken about the shutdown in a now deleted social media post indicating the decision came from up higher ups or rather “those who have never set foot into the Swamp” as she put it.

With the shuttering of the show however, it has raised questions as to not just the future of the series but that of the DC Universe streaming service itself as the latter outlet says Warners is “tightening the purse strings” at it decides the fate of the niche service which some expect will see its existing content folded into Warners’ own planned streaming service to launch likely early 2020. Reps for DC Universe have issued a “we’re all fine, nothing to see here” statement to Slashfilm in response.

Despite the issues, it’s not expected to have an impact on the second season of “Titans,” the animated Harley Quinn series or the upcoming “Stargirl” series. Production on the second season of “Titans” began only two weeks ago and is slated to run through to late September.
 
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