Warner Bros. is draining the swamp.
The Wilmington Star-News is reporting that the upcoming DC Universe series Swamp Thing, based on the DC Comics character, is wrapping production earlier than expected as Warner Bros. "evaluates the future of its DC Universe streaming service."
According to the article, local crew members were notified Tuesday night that the project would wrap production on Episode 10, and then stop as writers and producers rewrite the finale. The series was originally scheduled to film 13 episodes through May. In addition, several more days of reshoots for previously filmed episodes are expected.
Intending to have multiple seasons, the Swamp Thing series reportedly made significant investments in the Wilmington region, estimating to spend around $85 million locally on its entire first season, according to film grant applications filed with the state. The production occupies multiple sound stages and offices on the EUE/Screen Gems Studios lot, and built a massive swamp set on Stage 10, which houses a water tank for filming.
Swamp Thing stars Crystal Reed as Abby Arcane, a scientist who returns home to Houma, Louisiana to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, only to develop a bond with scientist Alec Holland (Andy Bean), who will be transformed into the elemental hero, Swamp Thing (Derek Mears). The series also stars Virginia Madsen, Jennifer Beals, Will Patton, Ian Ziering, Henderson Wade, and Kevin Durand.
The news puts the future of the show in doubt, as well as the future of the DC Universe streaming service. DC Universe launched just seven months ago on September 15, 2018 and has featured the live action series Titans and Doom Patrol, along with the animated series Young Justice: Outsiders. Young Justice: Outsiders is slated to return for the second half of its season on July 2nd, with the Harley Quinn animated series scheduled for October, and Stargirl, originally planned for 2019, pushed back to 2020.
After the recent Disney+ streaming service announcement offered at only $6.99 per month, Warner Bros. could potentially fold DC Universe into the planned WarnerMedia streaming service as a way to compete with Disney. WarnerMedia is expected to launch in late 2019, and could feature the DC Universe content similar to how Disney+ will feature Marvel Studios content.
In the meantime, Swamp Thing is currently scheduled to debut on DC Universe on May 31st.