DC Universe: Big changes could be on the way following Swamp Thing’s cancellation

Let’s talk about the DC Universe, from reports that Swamp Thing had a three-season-long arc, rumors about other shows, to the fate of the streaming service itself.

RIP, Swamp Thing. Killed before the show had a chance to truly flourish. Swampy hasn’t been officially buried yet, and his show is thriving just fine — in the first season and the first season alone, that is. We already learned DC Universe’s Swamp Thing had been canceled last week, but recent clarifications point out that we could have seen a lot more of the Green, which would have branched out to even more things.

That’s right: Business Insider reports that Swamp Thing could have run for at least three seasons, and the series would have delivered a Justice League Dark spinoff.

This just rubs more dirt in our already emotional wounds. As DC fans, we should be used to our meandering emotions by now, but we’re not. Figuring out that the series functions as a multi-season-long arc is clearly going to amp up our #SaveSwampThing tweets — especially since this means we might have to prepare ourselves for one heck of a cliffhanger at the end of this season, which will likely never be resolved. (Unless DC Universe allows Swamp Thing to replant at either HBO or The CW.)

There’s a slim chance that, even without Swamp Thing’s three-season-long continuity, we could still see a Justice League Dark series sometime in the nondescript future. That theory is still hopeful at best, and delusional at worst. After all, the growing rumors and reports regarding the series, other DC Universe original shows, and the well-being of the streaming service itself aren’t in the most uplifting gossip in the industry.

Early reports of the Swamp Thing cancellation claimed the reasons for the cancellation were tax incentives and budgeting-related errors. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the reasons are much murkier, and monetary dilemmas weren’t necessarily the primary pitfall of the series — or at least not the only downfall.

Deadline reports that financial discrepancies weren’t the sole or initiating factor to the show’s cancellation. As the publication notes, WarnerMedia (born from AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner) allegedly didn’t vibe with Swamp Thing. Apparently, WarnerMedia isn’t sure of DC Universe’s alignment with the new entertainment property, which bolsters a few conflicting theories and claims about the DC Universe and the series that thrive within it.

THR adds that sources claim the WarnerMedia streaming service could absorb DC Universe and its original content. While that could mean the other series would gain a wider audience well beyond its US-only subscribers on DC Universe, it also adds even more uncertainty to the mix.

Rumors that WarnerMedia could integrate some or all of the DC Universe original series doesn’t necessarily guarantee every show’s success. If WarnerMedia does absorb any content, the service would review each series on a case by case basis. Even still, that’s a big if, especially since the WarnerMedia service won’t debut until next year.

Contrarily, both streaming platforms could coexist. However, the coexistence of both services doesn’t guarantee the safety of pre-existing shows such as Young Justice, Doom Patrol, Titans, and shows that haven’t yet been released but are still currently in production. (e.g. Stargirl and Harley Quinn, the animated series.)

With rumors that Doom Patrol might be shaved off DC Universe next, it’s clear why so many fans are worried about the current shows and future-slated shows. And the rumors that DC Universe could shut down altogether or become a comic-only streaming service don’t alleviate the apprehension.

Following reports that WarnerMedia is reevaluating the DC Universe streaming service, which ignited many of the theories that it could be canceled entirely, the DC Universe issued a reassuring formal statement. As Comicbook.com reveals, DC Universe responded to a Watchtower forum moderator. Following up on concerns regarding the future of the service, DC responded:

"DC Universe continues to develop new shows, new seasons, new stories, more availability, and more platforms. We’ve got a lot of exciting plans for our other shows in the works, and look forward to sharing more in the coming months."

Any formal notice from DC Universe doesn’t necessarily squelch any fan theories or the overwhelming concern from subscribers and fans. To be fair, fans’ concerns are justified to some extent. Swamp Thing has garnered a high, well-deserved score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as multiple well-received reviews (professional and stan Twitter reviews). And then, of course, the show was axed just after the first episode officially aired. Thankfully, it seems as though DC Universe will continue to produce new content.