The CW’s Newest Show Centers a Gay, Black Billionaire Inventor

Just ahead of the third season premiere of supernatural murder mystery series Nancy Drew, The CW has announced a spinoff. 

Titled Tom Swift, the new show stars Tian Richards, who appeared on a season two episode of Drew in May. The story follows Burden (Richards), a billionaire inventor who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, 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 while fighting to stay one step ahead of an Illuminati-scale group hell-bent on stopping him."

Like Nancy Drew, Tom Swift is based on early 20th-century mystery novels. The lead in this adaption is both Black and gay, which is a super rare occurrence for a lead character on television, especially network TV. The news is being celebrated on social media. 

"THE DREWNIVERSE EXPANDS!!!!!!!!" wrote Nancy Drew star Kennedy McMann on Twitter. "what a beautiful day in the neighborhood!!!!!!"

Watch a clip of Richards' appearing on Nancy Drew below: