It’s about to get even more competitive in the streaming wars. With Netflix, Amazon and Hulu already jockeying for first position, and Disney’s own streaming service arriving sometime next year, DC have now entered the fray.
Warner Bros. have announced DC Universe, a streaming service they describe as a “first-of-its kind, immersive digital experience designed just for DC fans. One of the many incredible things your membership will include is unlimited access to the following exclusive original series”.
As you can see on the launch website, the first announced titles are Titans, Swamp Thing, Young Justice Outsiders and Harley Quinn.
Three of the titles listed above are just that right now, but we do have information regarding Swamp Thing. DC have brought in James Wan (Aquaman) to executive produce the live-action series. It has gotten a script-to-series order, which means if the script is good, the full show will be picked up.
Mark Verheiden (Battlestar Galactica) and Gary Dauberman (IT) will co-write the script and serve as showrunners if the full series is picked up. The show will follow CDC researcher Abby Arcane as she returns to her hometown of Houma, Louisiana to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus:
“There, she develops a surprising bond with scientist Alec Holland — only to have him tragically taken from her. But as powerful forces descend on Houma, intent on exploiting the swamp’s mysterious properties for their own purposes, Abby will discover that the swamp holds mystical secrets, both horrifying and wondrous — and the potential love of her life may not be dead after all”.
While there aren’t any details regarding the other announced series, there is information on one show not listed on the DC site. Another series will be titled Metropolis, and will be set in the City Of Tomorrow before the arrival of Superman, focusing on Lois Lane and Lex Luthor as they investigate the world of fringe science and try to expose the city’s dark secrets.
Like Disney’s as-yet-untitled streaming service, DC Universe is expected to launch in 2019, making next year a landmark year for how television is consumed, and how studios and networks compete with each other. The streaming wars are only just beginning.
#Peace.Love.DCUniverse
