DC Universe has cancelled Swamp thing after one episode! What happened?

So, I have to apologise for not getting to this until now but it’s been one of those weeks.

I’m sure by now you know that DC Universe’s Swamp Thing has had the plug pulled after airing only one episode.

Now there’s been two episodes aired and the full ten WILL air but there will be nothing after that.

And it’s a shame because the show is, frankly, brilliant. Visceral, dark, full of humour and horror and with characters I think we’ll grow close to in our own viewer-istic way.

But no matter how much we love it, it’s already dead… a dead show walking if you will.

So what happened?

Well, no-one knows. Well, obviously someone knows, but I don’t know and the majority of folks like me don’t either.

The predominent theory was that due to a mess up with paper work, the filming in North Carolina cost the series $26m in tax rebates that it wouldn’t get bakc, however, it seems that’s not exactly true with Forbes reporting:

There was some sort of dust-up that had to do with the show shooting in North Carolina where WB was promised more money than they got from the state due to some sort of error, but further reporting seems to say that they’ll get the money they’re owed anyway and that this cancelation had nothing to do with the North Carolina situation.

So, if that’s the case, then it wasn’t the tax thing.

Another rumour was that there was a conflict of vision at DC Universe as WarnerMedia/AT&T executives wanted a procedural drama… a sort of Diagnosis: Murder with Swamp Thing and co solving cases each week and with less of the brutal horror.

Maybe…

However, personally, I reckon the most likely scenario is that Warners have a new streaming service coming up that will also include things like HBO and that DC Universe will be folded into that eventually.

According to Deadline: “Like every other initiative, DC Universe is being reevaluated following the completion of AT&T acquisition of Time Warner as WarnerMedia has put an emphasis on the launch of a new streaming platform. There have been questions how DC Universe fits into those plans.”

As for the streaming service itself, with Stargirl set to arrive after Swamp Thing and the Harley Quinn and YoYounung Justice animated series still coming, fans are worried about the future of shows like Titans and Doom Patrol which have become fast favourites, however DC Universe assure us that it “continues to develop new shows, new seasons, new stories, more availability, and more platforms” and that they have “a lot of exciting plans for our other shows in the works”.

Early word is that HBO and The CW – where The Arrowverse lives – are both alreay looking into taking Swamp Thing over so it’s likely the story of Swamp Thing – as with DC Universe as a whole – still has a few twists and turns in it yet.

Honestly, the content they’ve been putting out so far has greatly impressed me, so i will be watching with great interest… whatever happens.