Following the announcement earlier this month that a live-action Swamp Thing series would arrive on the upcoming DC Universe streaming service, new character descriptions have surfaced for two of the show’s leads: Abby Arcane and Alec Holland.
The descriptions, which come from That Hashtag Show, are quite detailed and offer some insight into both the show’s plot and Abby and Alec’s backstories. You can check them out in full below.
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[ABBY ARCANE] Female, 30s, smart, private, professional, something of a loner, Abby works for the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, which has sent her to her hometown of Houma after ten years away to check out the worrying “Houma Flu.” After losing her mother at age 8 and bouncing through a series of foster families, Abby suddenly left Houma after high school to study medicine. Abby is good at her job but currently in the doghouse with her boss. Struggling with a secret that’s prompted her leaving and now the need to pop pills when necessary, Abby is apprehensive about going back home to Houma, and things are indeed awkward with her high school ex, Matt, who remained in Houma and became a cop. Abby hits it off immediately with a Sunderland Corporation researcher, Alec Holland, but soon discovers that her own efforts, like those of Alec, are considered suspect by the townsfolk, who aren’t happy with her feeling that it’s best to shut down the swamp (where the locals make their living) as they investigate the flu. Abby has her hands full with a potential epidemic, a town full of hostiles, and a strange but alluring “Shape Of Water” romance with a creature borne from the swamp. SERIES REGULAR
[ALEC HOLLAND] Male, 30s, smart, a bit of a hot-head, determined, passionate about his work, Alec works for the Sunderland Corporation (which is apparently building a hospital in Houma) as an independent researcher, where he’s discovered a connection between the swamp and the Houma flu. Alec hits it off immediately with CDC researcher and Houma native Abby Arcane, and the two of them are much alike, each wanting more out of life, interested in science, and not having much of a love life. Alec is not a big hit with the rest of Houma, however, who view him with suspicion if not open hostility. Alec is determined to persevere despite the town’s hostility, but it’s clear that the Swamp has its own plans for Alec when he undergoes a strange transformation into a swamp-based creature with abilities he could never imagine. SERIES REGULAR
Both descriptions tease the central roles that the Sunderland Corporation and Houma Flu will play in the story. Abby’s breakdown also hints at the inclusion of a police officer named Matt, who she dated in high school. Matt may have some relation to Matthew Cable, Abby’s former husband in the comics.
Swamp Thing was created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson in 1971 and features Alec Holland as a brilliant scientist who finds himself bonded with plant life after an attempt is made on his life. The character starred in a 1982 live-action movie by Wes Craven and a live-action series from 1990-1993. There were talks back in February of bringing Swamp Thing back to the big screen from Annihilation and Ex Machina director Alex Garland.
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Executive produced by James Wan, Mark Verheiden, Gary Dauberman and Michael Clear, Swamp Thing will join Titans, Young Justice: Outsiders, Harley Quinn and Metropolis on the DC Universe service, which is expected to launch later this year. Swamp Thing will arrive on the service in 2019.