Freaky 'Swamp Thing' rises in first extended teaser trailer, but show's future is murky

Bryan Alexander
Updated

"Swamp Thing" is coming to the surface with a new, extended teaser trailer that dropped Wednesday.

It's looking supernaturally freaky for the original drama destined to kick off May 31 on the DC Universe streaming service.

The teaser gives a real glimpse of the hideous, stumbling, bog-bound title character who will be portrayed by "Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." star Derek Mears.

Star Ian Ziering revealed the first teaser trailer April 17 from his Instagram account. The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star will portray Daniel Cassidy, also known as the Blue Devil, in the series.

"Try draining this swamp, I dare you," Ziering wrote on Instagram.

Try draining this Swamp, I dare you.

A post shared by Ian Ziering (@ianziering) on Apr 17, 2019 at 1:08pm PDT

Mears also tweeted the teaser saying, "Bring it."

But last week's first look dropped amid reports of a murky future for the series even before it shows off its first episode. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Warner Bros. Television has reduced its order for the scripted drama from the original 13-episode request to 10 episodes "after experiencing creative differences" with DC Universe.

Warner Bros. and DC Universe declined to comment on the record about the episode reduction or the future of the show.

The signs for a second season are not positive.

The Wilmington Star News reported last week that the "Swamp Thing" North Carolina production crew was blindsided by the shortened work request for the first season. Crew members were assembled by producers and told the show would be shutting down after filming Episode 10. Originally, the show was scheduled to shoot the 13 episodes through the end of May.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo told the paper he was surprised by the disheartening development. “We were all caught off guard,” he said. “No one was aware this was happening.”

"Swamp Thing" is based on the comic created in the 1970s by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.

The show follows Abby Arcane (Crystal Reed), who investigates a deadly swamp virus in Louisiana, only to find that's the beginning of the horrors. Andy Bean plays the scientist destined to transform into Swamp Thing (Mears).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Freaky 'Swamp Thing' rises in first extended teaser trailer, but show's future is murky