Michael Beach, who appeared in ‘Aquaman’ as the father of Black Manta, has signed on in a recurring role for DC Universe’s ‘Swamp Thing’. ‘Aquaman’s director, James Wan, operates as one of the executive producers on this series. This news comes at an odd time, as the first episode is due to arrive on the streaming service tomorrow, Friday, May 31st. It is known that there were some “creative differences” behind-the-scenes, which resulted in the first season being shortened from 13 episodes to 11. But it appears that Beach has been cast in the role of Nathan Ellery, and will make his debut on the first season’s fifth episode.
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Nathan Ellery is a villain from the comics, the head of the mafia-like Conclave, who ordered the killing of Alec Holland and Abby Arcane after they started digging into his shady dealings.
Beach will also be seen in another series, ‘Truth Be Told’, coming to Apple TV+ later this year, along with a pretty amazing cast that also includes Octavia Spencer, Lizzy Caplan, Ron Cephas Jones, Aaron Paul, Elizabeth Perkins, and Mekhi Phifer. He can also be seen in the just-released Netflix alien invasion flick, ‘Rim of the World’, directed by McG.
Prior to this, he was a cast member of the ABC legal drama ‘For the People’, and appeared in the acclaimed film ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’. His co-star in that film, Regina King, who won an Academy Award for her performance, is also starring in a DC Comics-based adaptation, HBO’s ‘Watchmen’.
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‘Swamp Thing’ stars Crystal Reed as Abby Arcane, an investigator for the CDC looking into the bizarre plague that has broken out in the swampy town of Houma, Louisiana, which also happens to be where she was born and raised. Andy Bean co-stars as Alec Holland, another scientist who winds up being transformed into the titular plant creature, with Derek Mears embodying the character post-transformation.
The cast also includes Will Patton as Avery Sunderland, Kevin Durand as Jason Woodrue, and Virginia Madsen as Avery Sunderland’s wife, Maria, all of whom look to be villains as well. Leonardo Nam, Maria Sten, Henderson Wade, Jennifer Beals, Jeryl Prescott, and Ian Ziering round out the cast.
‘Swamp Thing’ premieres on DC Universe tomorrow!
Source: Deadline
