Donald Glover On ‘Swarm,’ About An Obsession With A Beyonce’-Like Pop Star

Mar 16

*Swarm co-creators Janine Nabers and Donald Glover Arnold Turner/Getty Images*

Donald Glover and Janine Nabers' new Amazon series, ‘Swarm,’ premiered on a dark and stormy Tuesday night in Hollywood. The horror show, starring Dominique Fishback, is part of the same universe as Glover’s Atlanta. The show serves as a cautionary tale of what can happen when parasocial relationships formed through a screen collapse into reality. The seven-part show examines the dangers of feverish delusion, and the line between truth and reality.

Dominique Fishback, Donald Glover, Chloe Bailey, Janine Nabers, Damson Idris, head of Amazon and MGM Studios Jennifer Salke, head of Marketing, Amazon and MGM Studios Sue Kroll, and head of Amazon Studios Global TV Vernon Sanders Arnold Turner/Getty Images

“A lot of Atlanta — at least for seasons three and four that I worked on — was on the internet,” Nabers said. “We launched a lot of YouTube videos, a lot of memes, a lot of stuff that lived on the internet. The culture of the internet was very present in Atlanta, and it’s very present in Swarm.” Another parallel that both shows have in common, Nabers says, is that “Donald is from Atlanta and kind of took that city and made it into something a little more subversive, and I’m doing that with Houston, the city that I’m from.”

Glover describes Swarm as a "post-truth TV show" based on true events. Fishback is excited to play a character that is a departure from her previous roles. As a producer, she wanted the credits for Swarm to reflect that she brings more than just character work to her projects.

“I honestly give all the credit to my inner child, the one who came before there was social media and a lot of opinions that you have access to, [when] you watch different films and say, ‘Man, I want to do something like that!'” the actress continued. “So when the opportunity presented itself and it could be a little bit scary, I had to remember and go back to her — she wanted to try it before she was scared of anybody’s opinion of her, or what they thought she should or shouldn’t do.”

*Dominique Fishback Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic*

Chloe Bailey, who stars as Fishback’s sister Marissa, and Damson Idris, who plays Bailey’s boyfriend, both praised Fishback's artistry, saying they would rather make a bad movie with people they love than a fantastic movie with people they can’t stand.

Swarm examines the reality of being a public figure and the entitlement that can come from fans "accurately." Glover joked with the Beyhive, saying that the show's critique of superstar fandom is not that bad, and it's actually pretty cool. Nabers set out to complicate Black female representation on screen by rejecting the idea that all Black women are the same.

Overall, Swarm seems to be a promising addition to the world of horror television. Its examination of the dangers of parasocial relationships is both timely and important, especially in today's social media-driven culture. The fact that it is based on true events only adds to the intrigue surrounding the show, as viewers will undoubtedly be curious to learn more about the real-life incidents that inspired it.

Furthermore, the fact that Swarm is a part of the same universe as Glover's Atlanta is an added bonus for fans of that show, as it promises to have a similar tone and style. With a talented cast and crew, including the likes of Donald Glover and Dominique Fishback, there is little doubt that Swarm will be a hit with viewers.

If you're a fan of horror, social commentary, or just good television in general, then Swarm is definitely worth checking out. With its unique premise, strong performances, and subversive tone, it promises to be one of the most exciting shows of the year.