Swamp Thing fans have reason to be hopeful, despite the fact that the recent live-action series has been canceled. According to multiple new reports, Warner Bros. is apparently considering a Swamp Thing movie. It should be noted that this is very premature and, for now, shouldn't be regarded as something that is definitely happening. That said, there is reason to believe this is something that absolutely could happen.
Here's what we know. This started with a report from We Got This Covered, who states that Warner Bros. is in discussions for a movie based on the beloved character, who originally made his debut in the pages of DC's Vertigo imprint. The publisher recently announced Vertigo will be ending as of next year. But that is neither here nor there. What's more, this report states mega-producer and modern horror master James Wan, who was a producer on the show, would be involved.
The problem, initially, is that We Got This Covered has something of a spotty track record when it comes to scoops. However, their report was later backed up by a separate report from Bloody Disgusting, who have a bit more of a proven background when it comes to this sort of thing. That's enough to make us think this is, indeed, a real thing that is being discussed. That said, the BD report notes this is "astoundingly premature" and, at present, "it's just internal chatter."
Premature as it may be, this is surely welcome news. Many DC fans are still reeling, given the swift and unexpected cancelation of Swamp Thing on the DC Universe streaming service. The heralded series was given the ax just a single week into its first season. There is little to no hope of a revival and the circumstances surrounding the cancelation remains mysterious and strange as ever. Especially considering that the vast majority of critics and viewers embraced the series. It's the kind of show a budding streaming service relies on in order to attract subscribers.
Yet, it's there where the problem may exist. WarnerMedia, the parent company that owns DC, is getting ready to launch their own streaming service early next year, which is being eyed as a more direct competitor to Netflix and Disney+, which is launching in November. As such, a niche service like DC Universe may be harder to justify within the larger corporate structure. There have also been multiple reports casting doubt on DC Universe making the cut in the long run. Titans, and any other shows such as the Harley Quinn animated series that WarnerMedia ultimately wanted to continue on with, could be given homes elsewhere within the company.
All of this to say, Swamp Thing may have been a casualty of a larger corporate issue. Not a quality issue. At the same time, DC Films has been on a small role following the release of Justice League, with both Aquaman and Shazam proving to be solid hits. James Wan served as director of Aquaman and is currently producing a horror-tinged spin-off titled The Trench. Is it so hard to imagine a universe in which Warner Bros., a studio Wan has an excellent relationship with, convinces him to pivot Swamp Thing to the movie side of their DC universe? Not really.
It should also be noted that, if the movie moves forward, it will be with a new cast and wouldn't serve as a continuation of the series. While that may be a bummer in some respects, the prospect of Swamp Thing getting a new chance at life in the modern era of comic book movies is still tantalizing.
The beloved character was previously brought to the big screen by horror legend Wes Craven in 1982. That movie was given a sequel in 1989.
But what do you think? Do you want to see a Swamp Thing movie? Would you prefer the show gets rescued instead? Sound off in the comments!
