The next Nancy Drew episode has received a first-look image and official promo — teasing the backdoor pilot for the Tom Swift spinoff. Created by Edward Stratemeyer as a female counterpart to The Hardy Boys - and penned by various ghostwriters - the character debuted back in 1930. The young detective's popularity has endured to this day. As such, the CW's Nancy Drew show was met with equal excitement and skepticism. Fortunately, overseen by Noga Landau and Melinda Hsu Taylor, the unique adaptation emerged as a pleasant surprise. Currently in the middle of its second season, the show has already been renewed for a third.
Starring the impeccable Kennedy McCann as the titular detective, Nancy Drew season 1 established Horseshoe Bay as a hot bed of dark secrets and supernatural phenomena. The stakes have only gotten more intense and personal in the sophomore outing. As well as battling the Final Destination-rivaling curse of the Aglaeca and more, the Drew Crew have wrestled with respective family and relationship dramas. Equally, Nancy Drew season 2 saw the expansion of what's come to be fondly known as the Drewniverse. As well as introducing the Bobbsey Twins (Praneet Akilla and Aadila Dosani), it was confirmed that a Tom Swift spinoff was in the works — with a backdoor pilot announced for the final string of episodes.
With the episode in question looming, an official teaser was released by The CW Network. Played by Tian Richards, the character of Tom Swift has promised to be a beacon of representation. Based on the footage, giving even a famous MCU Tony Stark quote a run for its money, the titular Black, gay, billionaire inventor will also cause quite the stir. As the concept of ghosts and demonic entities clash with his sci-fi sensibilities, so, too, does Tom butt heads with Nancy — criticizing even her fashion sense not once but twice. On top of that, a first-look image of Richards in the role was also released by EW. Check out both below:
Like Nancy, the character of Tom Swift was also created by Stratemeyer. First published in 1910, the stories have equally been crafted by a variety of ghostwriters over the decades. Having amassed over 100 volumes, the inspiring series had more of a focus on science, invention, and technology. Based on the teaser, that will be more than translated to the Nancy Drew season 2 episode (and the in-development series) — with Tom citing his MIT education and demonstrating his array of gadgets. As well as the image, new details of the Tom Swift solo series were also shared. Offered by Landau and Taylor, the comments can be read below:
"We're excited about bringing a story that has both sci-fi but also Blackness, and joy, and pride, and love, and romance. Something that I'm personally most excited about with Tom Swift is that it's going to be an epic cosmic romance that positions a queer Black man right in the middle of it as the object of desire and alpha male of the story. That's just so importance to put on screen right now. In addition to that, what we're hoping, if we should be so lucky to get a series order, is that the other person in that triangle is going to be a man of trans experience, and his love story and his being the object of desire for a young woman who's in the Swift Squad."
Tom Swift was already confirmed to center on the character's missing father and see the hero battle an Illuminati-style organization. Between that and the new information, fans have a wealth of things to look forward to — including even more important, on-screen representation than previously believed. As such, fans will no doubt be even more hopeful that Tom Swift makes it to series. It was left unclear what exactly prompted Tom to seek out Nancy Drew. Whatever the case, the sparks looked set to fly until the mismatched pair inevitably reach an accord and excitement for the episode will intensify based on the promo.
Nancy Drew season 2, episode 15, "The Celestial Visitor" airs Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Source: The CW Network; EW