With less than a week to go until the premiere of “The Celestial Visitor,” it’s not long before Tom Swift (played by Tian Richards) will make his grand entrance into Horseshoe Bay and hopefully the wider Drewniverse. The potential Nancy Drew spin-off has a lot going for it, from a charismatic leading man to an exploration of strange phenomena beyond spirits that go bump in the night. The CW has been releasing more information about the episode in anticipation of the backdoor pilot, and here is everything we know so far!
This Is A Story All About How Tom Swift’s Life Turned Upside Down
In the first description released for the series, it is revealed that Tom’s arrival in Horseshoe Bay is caused by a shocking discovery in his personal life.
“‘Tom Swift’ will follow the serialized adventures of its titular Black, gay, billionaire inventor who is thrust into a world of sci-fi conspiracy and unexplained phenomena after the shocking disappearance of his father. Tom takes to the road on a quest to unravel the truth, leaving behind the comforts of his usual moneyed lifestyle, all while fighting to stay one step ahead of an Illuminati-scale group hell-bent on stopping him. Tom’s missions will require his genius and flair for innovation guided by love, romance, friendship, and the mysteries of the universe yet-unsolved.“
From the looks of this description, Tom Swift will lean more towards sci-fi than the horror genre Nancy Drew firmly belongs in. It also seems to include more locations than its parent show, traveling across the country rather than staying in one setting.
Tom Swift Is Set to Shake Things Up in Horseshoe Bay
Tom’s arrival in Horseshoe Bay will likely be a rocky one for both him and Nancy as their approaches appear to clash in the first promo footage from the episode. It’s not just Tom’s view of the world that is different from our super sleuth’s usual way of handling things. The sarcastic billionaire inventor also gets in a few quips about the Drew Crew, showing off his bold personality.
Nancy: You cannot science your way through ghosts!
Tom: I went to MIT, and you went to a thrift store to buy that hat, okay?
Nancy is firmly on Team Ghost (and can you blame her with this town’s track record?) while Tom is a man of science. Watching these two face off while hunting down the latest threat to Horseshoe Bay will be an entertaining way to get a glimpse into the tone of Tom Swift going forward.
From the Team That Brought You Nancy Drew
If you’re a fan of Nancy Drew‘s writing, you’re in luck! The band is getting back together for the spin-off, with Nancy Drew creators/executive producers Noga Landau and Melinda Hsu Taylor serving as series creators alongside Cameron Johnson of Empire. Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage of Gossip Girl and The O.C. fame will also be back to executive produce the spin-off. With this group in charge, Tom Swift is sure to be just as engaging and hilarious as Nancy Drew.
The “Swift Squad” Is About to Assemble
First, there was the Drew Crew, and now there’s the Swift Squad. In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Landau and Taylor teased that Tom will have a squad comparable to that of the Drew Crew, with one major twist. Taylor revealed in the same interview that a transgender character will be involved in a central love triangle on the new show as a series regular, which would be groundbreaking for representation. The two also teased that Tom’s perspective as a queer Black man will be central to the new show if it is picked up to series, which would be a welcome addition to the Drewniverse and to television overall.
As we get more information about Tom Swift, the more excited we are to see him in action in next week’s new episode! “The Celestial Visitor” will premiere on Wednesday, May 12 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW. Let us know what you’re looking forward to seeing in the episode in the comments, and be sure to check back here for all the latest information on Tom Swift as we get it!
