Tom Swift: The CW Network To Air 'Nancy Drew' Spinoff About Black, Gay Billionaire

The CW Network will soon air a spinoff of its hit series, "Nancy Drew." The new series will center on the Black, gay billionaire character, Tom Swift, who delves into the world of science fiction conspiracies and mysterious phenomena after his father's death.

Tom Swift was first introduced in an episode of "Nancy Drew" in May, but the production of the new show started in October last year, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Tian Richards will play Tom Swift, the billionaire gay inventor who embarks on a quest to unravel the truth behind his father's death. He leaves behind the comforts of his wealthy lifestyle while evading enemies who are out to stop him from his mission.

"The original Tom Swift was great for his time and what he represented," Richards told TVLine in May. "At the time, that was the face of young boys, All-American kids full of possibilities. But in 2021, that can look so different. It can look like someone like me — a Black guy who is chocolate, who is queer, who is all those things that we're told aren't the normal or the status quo."

The team behind "Nancy Drew," including television writer/producer Melinda Hsu Taylor, series creators Noga Landau, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, is working together for the new show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Richards said "Tom Swift" will offer fresh ideas to the audience, including issues on identity.

"We're going to dive into so many sectors of identity. We're going to talk about Blackness — and a different kind of Blackness than we're used to seeing, which is the Black elite, the 1 percent, the billionaires. We're also going to talk about a queer boy's journey into becoming a queer man," he told TVLine.

"Not only self-acceptance, but acceptance as a whole, having the community and people around you. We also don't shy away from the STEM world. You'll see all the amazing gadgets and science, so it'll also be deeply informative. You want to see the action along with the representation, and we tackle both things head on," the actor added.

"Tom Swift" is the second spinoff that CW Network is adding to its 2021-22 roster. The network has also picked up "All American: Homecoming," a spinoff of "All American," a show that is set in schools catering to the African-American community.