On October 28, 2020, it was announced that The CW was developing a spin-off from their Nancy Drew series titled Tom Swift.

[15] Lead actor Richards said of the adaptation, "The original Tom Swift was great for his time and what he represented.

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."

[22] On May 11, 2021, LeVar Burton joined the main cast to voice an artificial intelligence named Barclay.

[16] In February 2022, Ashleigh Murray, Marquise Vilsón, April Parker Jones, and Albert Mwangi joined the cast in starring roles.

[26] Caroline Framke, writing for Variety, said "When the show leans into this more personal conflict, thus allowing Richards to deepen his performance and character, it works.