Warner Bros. Television has unveiled the first photo from The CW’s new dramatic pilot, Black Lightning, based on the DC Comics character. Filming’s currently underway in Atlanta on the pilot with Cress Williams (Hart of Dixie) starring as Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning. The pilot is executive produced by Greg Berlanti, Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil, and Sarah Schechter, with Akil writing and directing.
“I knew way too much about the world as a young boy growing up in Richmond, California. I was no stranger to violence, death, hopelessness or the feeling that no one cared about what was happening in my life,” said Akil. “Comics were a great way for me to escape. I was about 13 when Black Lightning was created, and finally there was a Black Super Hero that gave a damn about our neighborhood and our lives.”
Akil added, “Resurrecting him at a time in our society when a sense of hope is lacking…Black Lightning will be that hope. And in updating the suit, it will signal to a new generation that it’s time to harness and release our power, and become our own Super Heroes.”
Black Lightning’s costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon, an Costume Designers Guild award nominee for her work on Iron Man. Shannon’s credits also include Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Jungle Book, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Blade: Trinity, and Good Girls Revolt.
The Plot: The first African-American DC Super Hero to have his own stand-alone comic title, Black Lightning is based on the character created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden in 1977. Jefferson Pierce made his choice: he hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with one daughter hell-bent on justice and the other a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend – Black Lightning.
