Black Lightning

The CW seems like it likes picking up shows that other networks discard, to great effect (see: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, originally made for Showtime, and Supergirl, originally made for CBS).

Black Lightning might be interesting, as it's a different type of show than the others. But I don't know if the CW wants another DC show as part of their main lineup, since they already have four. Perhaps it would work as a mid-season show, like The 100?

edited 3rd Feb '17 8:58:59 AM by alliterator

Actually CW has five DC shows already: Arrow, Flash, iZombie, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl.

iZombie is from Vertigo but DC owns Vertigo.

CW officially picksup Black Lightning.[1]

So I wonder what Earth he'll be from. Earth-1 apparently didn't have metas before the Star Labs explosion and the only good supers on Earth-S until recently were the Supers although his having retired leaves a door open. Personally I'm hoping for either Earth-19 or Earth-3, especially the latter because it would allow for guest spots by Jay.

edited 4th Feb '17 11:51:59 AM by tricksterson

Ooh, Earth-3 would be neat. We know there are metahumans on Earth-3, but we don't know when they started showing up, so we could definitely have a middle-aged Black Lightning. It would also give the world a bit more history, perhaps make things a bit more like the usual DC universe (like Powerless, which is set on Earth-P).

There have been people with superpowers on Earth-1 prior to the particle accelerator explosion, they just weren't known to the public. There was even a whole team of superheroes running around during World War II.

Alleged plot details. If true he'll be middle aged and the daughters will still be part of the show.

edited 15th Feb '17 8:30:03 AM by comicwriter

Casting Call/Character Breakdowns.

JEFFERSON PIERCE: “Male, African-American, late 30s to 50. Handsome, fit, with an athletic build. Former 3-time gold medal decathlon winner who is now principal of a high school in South Central Los Angeles. A father figure to his student and hero to the local community. JEFFERSON is charming, charismatic, smart, and has both warmth and humor. He is devoted to his two daughters and remains deeply in love with his ex-wife LYNN. He also has a great passion for justice and a quick temper that he has spent years learning how to control. Think Idris Elba. LEAD.

JENNIFER: Female. African-American, LEGAL 18 to play 16. JEFFERSON’s younger daughter. JENNIFER is a scholar athlete; beautiful with a lean, athletic runner’s build. She is the entitled feminist of the Pierce family. Independent and outspoken with a wild streak. SERIES REGULAR, ASP.

ANISSA: Female. African-American, to play 22. JEFFERSON’s elder daughter. Beautiful, quick-witted and intelligent; intense and passionate. ANISSA has a great respect for her father. ANISSA balances the demands of medical school with her duties as a part time teacher at JEFFERSON’s school. SERIES REGULAR, ASP.

LYNN: Female, African-American, mid 30s to 50. Exudes confidence and intelligence. Beautiful, but not to be trifled with. Can exhibit both great emotional depth as well as a flirtatious, mischievous side. SERIES REGULAR, ASP.

edited 15th Feb '17 10:53:24 AM by Halberdier17

Just have Idris Elba play every single character.

Salem Akil will direct the Pilot.

Jefferson Pierce has been cast!

The actor they cast is 46.

edited 24th Feb '17 12:21:19 PM by Halberdier17

The two daughters have been cast.

edited 2nd Mar '17 2:36:47 PM by comicwriter

You know, I just realized that if they do pick up this show, it will be the first show on the CW to have an all-black cast since the days of the UPN sitcoms.

Jefferson's ex-wife been cast.[1]

This will be a new

experience, I've no clue

who half the cast are.

edited 10th Mar '17 8:17:17 PM by Soble

First look[1].

Looks pretty damn badass. Might actually be my favorite of the CW costume designs I've seen thus far.

I like how he doesn't quite fit the usual superhero body type - he's a bit older, a bit chunkier.

New synopsis

It is a midseason show and is currently not in the same universe as Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, or Supergirl.

First trailer

Pretty sure they'll do a Supergirl on the show and have it crossover in the future via Multiversal travelling stuff.

That is why I said "currently"; the CW doesn't want to do a 5-way crossover between all the DC shows on the Network yet. But maybe if one of the shows gets cancelled they will put it in the same universe.

edited 18th May '17 10:35:43 AM by Halberdier17

So, in the end, Jefferson is a metahuman with some tech, right? What he was doing with his suit made me wonder if he was needing a little assistance.

I was wondering about that. In the comics he starts out using a suit that generates electricity but later o his abilities become internalized. Maybe that's how they'll approach it in the series.

Albino rapper Krondon has been cast as Tobias Whale.