Swamp Thing: Director Posts Behind The Scenes Photo, Video
Take an up-close and personal look at the home of the Swamp Thing.
Len Wiseman, the director of the forthcoming DC Universe streaming series, has shared to his Instagram account a photo along with a short video from behind the scenes of the production, which is currently shooting. Although we don't yet get a look at the title character, the photo does give us star Andy Bean in character as its alter-ego Alec Holland, as well as Crystal Reed (portraying Abby Arcane) on set along with Wiseman.
View this post on InstagramAnatomy Class with @andybeanofficial and @crystalmreed
A post shared by Len Wiseman (@lenwiseman) on Dec 27, 2018 at 11:38am PST
As for the video, it's a short but spooky tour of the swamp, shot in a dark and ominous fashion by cinematographer Pedro Luque.
View this post on Instagram@pedroluque always adding a spot of romance to the occasion
A post shared by Len Wiseman (@lenwiseman) on Dec 27, 2018 at 9:35pm PST
The posts are our first look at the production of the highly-anticipated series, which will be joining Titans, Doom Patrol, and Stargirl as DC Universe's inaugural batch of live-action streaming series. Titans debuted in October and recently wrapped up its well-received first-season run; next on tap is Doom Patrol, which recently released its first teaser trailer and will be premiering on February 15, 2019.
While DCU's other series are firmly in the action/sci-fi mold, Swamp Thing will have both its slimy feet firmly planted in the horror genre. Its pilot was co-written by Mark Verheiden (Constantine, Ash vs. the Evil Dead) and Gary Dauberman (Annabelle: Creation, It: Chapter One); horror maestro James Wan — who just scored a smash hit at the helm of the feature film Aquaman — is also on board as a producer. The first season's plot will bring Holland into conflict with Avery Sunderland (Will Patton), a shady businessman attempting to harness the mysterious forces that lie within the swamps of his small Louisiana town; Reed's Arcane is an investigator trying to get to the bottom of the swamps' secrets. Derek Mears (who portrayed Jason Voorhees in the 2009 Friday the 13th reboot) will portray the title character, post-transformation.
Thanks to DC Universe, we have detailed descriptions of the characters of Holland and his monstrous alter-ego. The human side of the equation is described thusly: "Passionate biologist Alec Holland is caught in the crosshairs of a small town nightmare when he discovers a bizarre local illness may be connected to his work in the swamp. Holland's discovery leads him into conflict with dark forces, from which he emerges as the elemental hero known as Swamp Thing."
As to that veggie-monster of an alter ego, we have this description: "Emerging from the swamp with a monstrous physique and strange new powers over plant life, the man who was once Alec Holland struggles to hold onto his humanity. When dark forces converge on the town of Marais, Swamp Thing must embrace what he has become in order to defend the town as well as the natural world at large."
In addition to those previously mentioned, the interesting cast includes Virginia Madsen (Candyman) as Sunderland's long-suffering wife Maria, Ian Ziering (of the venerable Sharknado series) as the villainous Blue Devil, and The L Word's Jennifer Beals in a major but undisclosed role.
If that foreboding video and the series' behind-the-camera pedigree is any indication, Swamp Thing is shaping up to be a freaky good time. We'll have more details as they become available; the show is expected to premiere on DC Universe sometime in 2019.