UPDATED: ‘Swamp Thing Cutting Its First Season Short, Shutting Down Production Early

UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter confirms Warner Bros. Television producers cut the original 13-episode order for Swamp Thing to 10 following “creative differences with its home at Warners-backed streaming platform DC Universe.” The decision comes as DC Universe parent company WarnerMedia plots out its larger direct-to-consumer streaming platform. The original story follows.

Wilmington Star News reports production on DC Universe’s Swamp Thing is shutting down production early, cutting the show’s first season short.

According to the outlet’s sources within the industry, Warner Bros. shut down production on the first season of Swamp Thing as it evaluates the future of the DC Universe streaming service on which the series is scheduled to premiere. Swamp Thing began production in Wilmington in November 2018 and was originally scheduled to continue filming the 13-episode season through May. On Tuesday night, Local crew members were informed that the series would wrap production on episode 10 before halting all together as writers and producers pen a new ending to the season.

Series star Virginia Madsen reportedly confirmed the production shut down in a since-deleted Instagram post that included the following message:

“I’m beyond sad. What a terrible decision. We have been cut to the core by those who have never set foot into the Swamp. And despite the rule I am going to use the hashtag. #swampthing.”

It is currently unclear when that new Swamp Thing ending will be filmed in Wilmington. The outlet notes several more days of reshoots for previously filmed episodes are expected.

Here is the official synopsis for Swamp Thing:

When CDC researcher Abby Arcane returns to her childhood home of Houma, Louisiana, in order to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus, 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 swamp’s 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 stars Crystal Reed as Abby Arcane, Maria Sten as Liz, Henderson Wade as Matt Cable, Jeryl Prescott as Madame Xanadu, Virginia Madsen as Maria Sunderland, Will Patton as Avery Sunderland, Jennifer Beals as an original character created for the series, Andy Bean as Alec Holland, Kevin Durand as Jason Woodrue, Ian Ziering as Blue Devil, and Derek Mears as the titular creature.

Aquaman director James Wan will serve as an executive producer on the series alongside Mark Verheiden, Gary Dauberman, Michael Clear, and Len Wiseman. The first episode will be written by Verheiden and Dauberman while Wiseman will direct.

Swamp Thing will premiere on May 31, 2019, exclusively on DC Universe.

Source: Wilmington Star News