‘Swamp Thing’ teaser trailer drops on heels of show ending production early in Wilmington
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - DC Universe’s Swamp Thing has released its first teaser trailer on the heels of reports that the show will end production earlier than expected in Wilmington.
Cast and crew members got word of the changes during filming on Tuesday night. The reaction on the set was one of shock, according to sources who did not want to be named.
Actress Virginia Madsen, who plays Maria Sunderland in Swamp Thing, confirmed that production was abruptly shutting down in a now-deleted Instagram post Wednesday morning.
“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,” she stated. Madsen ended the post saying “despite the rule I am going to use the hashtag #swampthing.” An hour later she removed the post.
The show was scheduled to premiere on a new DC Universe streaming service at the end of May. Leaders in the film industry expected it to shoot several seasons in Wilmington.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show has been cut from 13 episodes to 10 because of creative differences at its streaming platform, DC Universe.
We don’t yet know what this means for the future of viewing the show.
Coincidentally, DC Universe tweeted the first teaser trailer for Swamp Thing Wednesday afternoon, giving fans their first glance of the titular character.
The Twitter post stated that the television show is still on track to premiere May 31.
New Hanover County Commissioner Rob Zapple said he’s disappointed to hear the news, but grateful the show shot here at all.
“I know they’ve had some hiccups about the number of episodes they want. We’re hopeful they can work that all out and fire that back up again, but just the fact that they were here has let a number of people here, and in Los Angels and New York and Chicago know that film is alive and well in New Hanover County and Wilmington,” Zapple said.
The executive vice president of Screen Gems Studios where the show is filmed declined to comment Wednesday.
Swamp Thing starred Andy Bean (Here and Now, Power) as scientist Alec Holland, Derek Mears (The Orville, Sleepy Hollow) as the title character following Holland’s transformation, and Crystal Reed (Teen Wolf and Gotham) as Abby Arcane.
Many of the crew members had plans to work on the new Hulu series, Reprisal, after wrapping Swamp Thing. Now, film crew members will have a longer break between shows than expected.
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