Virginia Madsen cast in James Wan’s Swamp Thing series

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The DC Universe streaming service's upcoming Swamp Thing series is turning out to be an assemblage of genre all stars. The show, based on the DC Comics characters created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, is being executive produced by horror mastermind James Wan, written by Mark Verheiden (showrunner on the third season of Ash vs. Evil Dead) and Gary Dauberman (writer of the ANNABELLE and THE NUN spin-offs from Wan's THE CONJURING), and UNDERWORLD's Len Wiseman is directing the pilot.

There are more familiar names from genre projects in the cast, including Derek Mears, who was FRIDAY THE 13TH 2009's Jason Voorhees, as the title character. Teen Wolf's Crystal Reed stars as "smart and caring CDC Doctor" Abby Arcane, whose 

strong sense of empathy puts her at the center of a horrific life-threatening epidemic in her hometown, where she faces emotional demons from her past… while a chance meeting with scientist Alec Holland takes her into a world of horror and the supernatural, and of the elemental creature known as Swamp Thing.

Channel Zero's Maria Sten plays Abby's bartender friend Liz Tremayne; Jennifer Beals (whose horror credits include THE BRIDE and THE PROPHECY II) is Sheriff Lucilia Cable, who has dedicated her life to protecting the town of Marais; and Jeryl Prescott of The Walking Dead will be playing blind fortune teller Madame Xanadu.

You can now add to that list CANDYMAN's Virginia Madsen, who will be taking on the role of Maria Sunderland. Maria 

traded in her privileged upbringing for the swamps of Marais when she married local business magnate Avery Sunderland, but Avery’s life-time obsession with the swamp has driven a wedge between him and Maria. Her poised existence is shaken further when the return of Abby Arcane reawakens a deep grief over the loss of Maria’s daughter, Shawna, drawing her into the dark supernatural mysteries emerging from the swamp.

The role of Maria's husband Avery has not yet been cast.

Swamp Thing is expected to premiere on DC Universe sometime in 2019, and if there's anything that could get me to sign up for that streaming service, this show is it.