Swamp Thing is an American superhero horror television series created by Gary Dauberman and Mark Verheiden for DC Universe, based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The series follows medical doctor Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) encountering the eponymous Swamp Thing (Derek Mears), a plant-elemental creature who fights malevolent forces around a Louisiana swamp.
The series premiered on May 31, 2019, and consisted of 10 episodes. Shortly after its premiere, DC Universe announced that Swamp Thing had been canceled. The remaining episodes were released on DC Universe until the series' conclusion on August 2, 2019. The series received positive reviews from critics, particularly for the series' horror elements and practical monster effects.
Abby Arcane returns home to Marais, Louisiana,[1] to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, where she develops a bond with disgraced scientist Alec Holland. After Holland tragically dies, Abby discovers the mysteries of the swamp and that Holland might not be dead after all.[2]
In May 2018, DC Universe gave the production a script-to-series order. Mark Verheiden and Gary Dauberman were attached to write the first episode of the series and executive produce alongside James Wan and Michael Clear. Rob Hackett served as a co-producer. Production companies included Atomic Monster and Warner Bros. Television.[2] Len Wiseman directed the series' first episode in addition to serving as an executive producer.[15]
In April 2019, production for the series was unexpectedly cut short due to creative differences with DC Universe's parent company WarnerMedia, thus reducing the original episode order from 13 to 10 episodes.[20] Further reports stated that the series was canceled due to budget shortfalls after the expected level of tax rebates offered by the state of North Carolina were substantially reduced.[21] A representative from DC Universe said that the streaming service was being re-evaluated and that there were no plans for a second season. The spokesman did not elaborate explicitly on why specifically the show was canceled.[22]
Mears described the cancellation as a "heartbreaker" and felt the decision to cancel the show showed a "lack of respect" on DC's part. He added that members of the production had been told up until the cancellation "how amazing everything was... So it's a weird nebulous space that we're all in now because we don't know officially why that would happen, or why they canceled it".[23] In mid-2019, a movement with the hashtag #SaveSwampThing began spreading on social media shortly after the series was cancelled in an attempt to save the series. Mears also showed his support of the movement.[24] With The CW network acquiring the broadcast rights to the series, The CW president Mark Pedowitz did not rule out the possibility of renewing the series for a second season,[25] but in January 2021, Pedowitz said it was unlikely the series would return on The CW and also commented that there was a slim possibility of Swamp Thing appearing on other Arrowverse series, such as Legends of Tomorrow.[26]
Swamp Thing premiered May 31, 2019, on DC Universe.[27] Despite being canceled not long after its premiere, DC Universe continued to release the remaining episodes of the series, with the finale being released on August 2, 2019.[28] Swamp Thing: The Complete Series was released digitally on December 2, 2019, and on DVD and Blu-ray on February 11, 2020.[29]
David Griffin, writing for IGN, said the series properly "honors the comic book origins" of Swamp Thing and praised the performance of Crystal Reed, Virginia Madsen, and Will Patton, as well as the film-making style of Wiseman. Griffin particularly praised the Swamp Thing's practical suit and found that any CGI used was not distracting.[35] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised the creepy atmosphere and found the cast performances to be strong enough to carry episodes even when the monster was not on screen.[36]
In a more mixed review, Kevin Yeoman, writing for Screen Rant, approved of the "nausea-inducing practical effects" reminiscent of John Carpenter's The Thing but criticized the writing and pacing and found the decision to not reveal Swamp Thing until the final moments of the pilot episode to be frustrating.[37] Joel Keller of Decider found the horror elements made up for generic characters and an uninteresting mystery plot line.[38]
On May 2, 2018, it was announced that DC Universe had given the production a script-to-series order. Mark Verheiden and Gary Dauberman were expected to write the first episode of the series and executive produce alongside James Wan, Michael Clear. Rob Hackett was set to serve as a co-producer. Production companies involved with the series were slated to include Atomic Monster Productions and Warner Bros. Television. On September 4, 2018, it was reported that Len Wiseman would direct the series' first episode in addition to serving as an executive producer.
The fifth episode of the DC Comics-based television series Swamp Thing which was released Friday, June 29 on the DC Universe subscription service contained several pivotal sequences that involved the visual effects work of CoSA VFX.
I can tell you this: Across all of Swamp Thing, we have anywhere from 50 to 60 artists working on it every day. Now, granted, there are multiple episodes going, but I would say that probably on the the peak side of any given episode is probably 30 artists.
When you begin the process of an episode, does the team meet with the producers to discuss the sequences beforehand, and do they have to shoot things differently based on upon what you talk about?
Absolutely. David Beedon is my partner and he was on set for Swamp Thing. What he would do, is he would go through the scripts, with the producers and the director of any given episode, and identified where visual effects was going to be needed, and then shoot things carefully to allow for the best results for visual effects. And in a lot of ways that would also include setting up additional cameras, taking digital reference photography, taking measurements, getting to know the camera lens, and a whole bunch of data that we gather on set.
Anyway, I think this is for a sure better than the previous episode. I am eagerly looking forward to see him much more of the mystical/supernatural they will be able to put into the remaining episodes. What are your thoughts?
Something weird is going on over at DC Universe, a streaming service that never seemed like all that great of an idea to begin with, but may not be long for this world. At least not in its current form.
It seems more likely that the entire DC Universe experiment might be coming to a close in the near future. Not to say this service and everything on it will die, but it seems likely that DC Universe will probably be folded into a larger streaming offering from Warner Bros. at some point down the road, and Swamp Thing might be the first casualty of what could be a rocky transition.
While back in the swamp, Alec is shot by a mysterious figure, who blows up his boat. Alec manages to fall into the water, where his body begins being taken over by the swamp. Abby heads out into the swamp, where she is attacked. However, she comes face to face with Alec. She runs away in terror, no longer recognizing him, as he has become Swamp Thing (Derek Mears).
DC Universe's latest original series, "Swamp Thing," was abruptly canceled on Thursday with no explanation, despite positive reactions from critics and fans alike. The series had only aired one episode on the streaming platform, which launched in September, and episode two became available on Friday.
The first season was originally going to be 13 episodes, but production abruptly shut down in April after the season was cut to 10 episodes. Despite this, the seven people said they had little inclination that the show was in trouble, and even expected more seasons to come, especially after the show started getting good buzz.
"We knew we were getting good stuff on set and we kept hearing that the studio was very happy," a crew member said. "There were also a lot of sunk costs where it felt like if things were going well at all, they'd probably keep going because they had so much invested in it. The swamp we built was incredible and was a very expensive set to build."
Abby's determination to find answers was the highlight of the episode. It was obvious she was going to be ridiculed about what she was saying about the monster she laid eyes on, but it further fueled her drive to find out more.
Maria's brush with death is only going to make her more intrigued to find out the mystical properties of the swamp. She's desperately holding on to the notion that she will one day be reunited with her daughter.
It's a Swamp Thing Season 3 Episode 5 DetailsLength22:50Release DateAugust 11, 2022DirectorVinton HeuckWriterRachel PegramHarley Quinn Previous Next "A Thief, a Mole, an Orgy" "Joker: The Killing Vote" All Season 3 Episodes
This week's episode of Swamp Thing, "The Anatomy Lesson," took on one of the most famous comics in DC's history. The DC Universe series directly adapted some moments from Alan Moore and Steve Bissette's seminal Swamp Thing tales and added a few twists of its own.
The episode's title directly references 1984's The Saga of The Swamp Thing #20-22. The arc details Jason Woodrue's dissection of a captive Swamp Thing. By re-enacting some noteworthy comics sequences, the episode makes the botanical anatomy lesson even more disturbing than any abridged anatomy lesson you might remember from high school.
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