The CW's in-development Nancy Drew spin-off series, Tom Swift, has cast Dumplin' star Tian Richards in the lead role. Centered on the titular multi-millionaire queer black inventor, the Tom Swift spin-off focuses on the exploits of its eponymous hero as he comes across a sinister sci-fi conspiracy following the mysterious disappearance of his father. Tom sets out to discover the truth in the planned show, leaving behind the comforts of his affluent lifestyle. But his quest is interrupted by an ominous secret society that is threatened by Tom's genius and tech-savviness. Tom Swift is being developed by Nancy Drew showrunner Melinda Hsu Taylor, who intends to expand a franchise out of the original show by making more series based on books published by Stratemeyer Syndicate.
On Tuesday, The Wrap reported that Richards had been cast to play the eponymous lead in Tom Swift. His character will appear in an upcoming episode of Nancy Drew, which will serve as the backdoor pilot for the spin-off series. In the episode, Tom will join Nancy for one of her investigations. While Nancy will treat the investigation as a supernatural case, Tom will explain that the event is actually cosmically paranormal. If The CW ultimately orders Tom Swift to series, then Richards will portray the new show's lead character.
The Tom Swift books have been a pioneering and successful assistant in the inclusion of sci-fi and edisonades in American pop culture. In fact, it was the success of the book series that inspired Stratemeyer to publish the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys novels. Tom Swift books have been a cultural phenomenon for over a century, yet despite their significance, they have struggled to acquire a media adaptation. Now The CW and Taylor are attempting to pay homage to the classic novels, and hopefully, their plans will come to fruition soon. Richards is a reliable performer who has entertained audiences with his acting chops in movies like Being Mary Jane and Burden, and his appearance in Nancy Drew will also serve as a viable test run for his performance in Tom Swift. This will allow fans to familiarize with and warm-up to the character ahead of the show's launch.
Source: The Wrap