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DC Entertainment's forthcoming SVOD service DC Universe is bringing one of the most beloved comic book characters to the small screen.
Following a months-long deal-making process, DC Universe has put DC Comics' Swamp Thing in development. The drama, based on DC characters created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, has a script-to-series order. That means if the script comes in well, the drama would then be picked up straight to series.
Mark Verheiden (Battlestar Galactica, Netflix's Daredevil) and Gary Dauberman (It and its forthcoming sequel) are attached to co-write the script and serve as showrunners on the live-action drama. James Wan (Aquaman) will exec produce alongside his Atomic Monster banner topper Michael Clear, with the company's Rob Hackett set as a co-exec producer. Verheiden and Dauberman will also exec produce the live-action drama.
The drama follows what happens when CDC researcher Abby Arcane returns to her childhood home of Houma, Louisiana, in order to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus. There, 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 swamps 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 first appeared in the 1970s and '80s under Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben. Over the years, several writers have taken on the character including Alan Moore, Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man) and, most recently, co-creator Wein for a six-issue miniseries in 2016. Wrightson announced his retirement in January 2017 and passed away in March. Wein died last September.
The property has been adapted multiple times over the years, including a 1982 feature written and directed by Wes Craven and based on the character created by Wein and Bernie Wrightson starring Ray Wise. (Jim Wynorski directed the 1989 sequel.) In 1990, USA Network aired a live-action TV series from Joseph Stefano that ran for three seasons, with Fox producing a short-lived animated series in the early 1990s that aired in Canada after it was pulled from the schedule. (Syfy later aired it in syndication.)
Wan next has DC's Aquaman, which he co-wrote and directed, due in December. His credits include the Saw, The Conjuring and Insidious franchises. On the TV side, he directed the pilot for CBS' MacGyver reboot and exec produces the reboot. He's repped by Paradigm, Stacey Testro International and attorney David Fox.
For Verheiden, Swamp Thing is his latest DC drama following NBC's Constantine and WB Network/CW's Smallville. Repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and Nelson Davis, his credits include Starz's Ash vs. Evil Dead, Marvel's Daredevil TV series for Netflix, NBC's Heroes and Syfy's Battlestar Galactia.
Dauberman, meanwhile, will reunite with Wan after writing Annabelle and its sequel. He's repped by ICM Partners, Industry Entertainment and Felker Toczek.
Should Swamp Thing go to series, it would join a roster of scripted originals at Warner Bros. Digital Networks' DC Universe platform including straight-to-series live-action Superman prequel Metropolis, Titans, from Greg Berlanti; and a pair of animated series from Warner Bros. Animation Harley Quinn and Young Justice: Outsiders. The DC Digital service is poised to launch in 2018.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/l...c-digital-platform-james-wan-attached-1107998
