The CW Picks Up Four Shows, Saves SWAMP THING?
The CW has announced the acquisition of four new-to-the-network scripted shows for broadcast and its streaming platforms, and one of those shows is Swamp Thing.
The series, which lasted not quite a full season at DC Universe, follows Dr. Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed) and her investigation into a swamp-born virus in a small Louisiana town. When a mysterious creature emerges, she finds herself facing supernatural nightmares. The show is based on the DC Comics character created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson. He first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in July 1971, and was revived in 1982. Two films hit theaters in the 1980s, the first directed by Wes Craven.
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The current iteration of Swamp Thing met a very quick death on the DC Universe streaming service, first having its season order cut from thirteen to ten episodes, and then getting cancelled after only one episode aired. The rest of the season was released as planned, but it was a bittersweet experience for fans, who by and large enjoyed the show.
Swamp Thing is a production of Atomic Monster and Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers are James Wan, Mark Verheiden, Gery Dauberman, Michael Clear, and Len Wiseman.
In addition to Swamp Thing, The CW also bought Tell Me a Story, written and executive produced by Kevin Williamson and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. It’s a darker version of well-known fairy tales, reimagining them into psychological thrillers set in modern-day New York City. The first season wove together “The Three Little Pigs,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” and “Hansel and Gretel” throughout the serialized story. Season two features “Beauty and the Beast,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Cinderella”. The show ran for two seasons on CBS All Access.
The press release from The CW only states that Swamp Thing and Tell Me A Story are making their network television debuts, but there’s no indication that there are plans for additional seasons.
Also acquired are two seasons of Canadian series Coroner and one season of the UK comedy Dead Pixels.
Coroner stars Smallville alumnus Serinda Swan as Dr. Jenny Cooper, a recently widowed coroner who investigates suspicious, unnatural, or sudden deaths in Toronto. The show co-stars Roger Cross and hails from Muse Entertainment, Back Alley Films, and Cineflix Studios.
Dead Pixels follows Meg (Alexa Davies), Nicky (Will Merrick), and Usman (Sargon Yelda) as they navigate through “tragicomic” real lives while obsessing over an online fantasy game called Kingdom Scrolls. The show airs on E4 in the UK and is produced by Various Artists Limited.
