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BLACK LIGHTNING Showrunners Talk Villain, Possible Arrowverse Crossovers, Static and More
At ATX Television Festival (via International Business Times), Black Lightning showrunners Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil offer plenty of details on The CW’s latest DC Comics series. They confirm the main villain, while also discussing the show’s LGBT+ representation, Static, and the chances of the series crossing over with the Arrowverse. While other superhero shows frequently deal with a “villain of the week,” Black Lightning will avoid that trope. Instead, we’ll be spending a lot of time with the show’s big bad, Tobias (presumably Tobias Whale from DC lore). Salim explains, “It’s a character driven show. I don’t know if there’s going to be a fight every week. There’s…
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Electrifying First Trailer for The CW’s BLACK LIGHTNING Released
At Upfronts today, The CW confirmed that Black Lightning will premiere during midseason, while it will still be separate from the rest of the network’s DC shows. Now, a first trailer for the series has been released. Black Lightning stars Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning. Pierce hung up the Black Lightning identity years ago, but with a daughter hell-bent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend. Check out the trailer below, and stay tuned for more as we have it.
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The CW President Teases Next Fall’s Arrowverse Crossover; BLACK LIGHTNING Won’t Be Involved
The CW originally began crossover events in the fall of 2014, when The Flash and Arrow united for a two-episode event. The formula was repeated the next year, and last year’s crossover was the biggest one yet, bringing in Supergirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Of course, this trend will continue this coming fall, with all four shows returning for new seasons. At Upfronts today (via THR), The CW president Mark Pedowitz confirms that the next Arrowverse crossover will air in November. He adds that last year’s event resulted in The CW’s most-watched week in six years. However, one show that won’t play a role is newcomer Black Lightning, which premieres…
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BLACK LIGHTNING Set for Midseason Premiere on The CW; Full Synopsis Released
The CW has unveiled its schedule for the 2017-2018 television year. While most of the network’s DC offerings will return in the fall – with Arrow getting a new timeslot – the latest show will have to wait a little longer. Black Lightning, from creators Salim & Mara Brock Akil and Greg Berlanti, is scheduled to premiere during midseason on The CW. It’s unknown how many episodes the season will consist of, but typically, The CW’s midseason shows have fewer episode orders than full season shows. Expect confirmation to come soon. Additionally, The CW (via KSiteTV) has released a lengthy plot synopsis for Black Lightning. It expands on what we…
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BLACK LIGHTNING Gets a Series Order at The CW
The next DC superhero to enter the world of television is Black Lightning, thanks to Salim and Mara Brock Akil, as well as Greg Berlanti. The pilot was originally set up at Fox, before moving over to The CW. The latter network is already home to all of Berlanti’s other comic book shows (the Arrowverse shows and Riverdale), so Black Lightning seemed like a natural fit. Now, it’s official. The CW has confirmed a series order for Black Lightning. The show stars Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce, who returns to the world of superheroics/vigilantism after years of retirement. The series also stars Nafessa Williams, China Anne McClain, and Christine Adams. While…
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First Look at BLACK LIGHTNING, The CW’s New DC Superhero
Filming is now underway on Black Lightning, the new DC Entertainment pilot from Greg Berlanti, Salim Akil, and Mara Brock Akil. Originally picked up by Fox, the pilot later moved to The CW, joining Berlanti’s four other DC shows. Now, we have a first look at the character. The CW has released a first-look image of actor Cress Williams suited up as Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning. The costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon, whose past credits include Iron Man and The Jungle Book. Salim Akil had this to say about what the Black Lightning character stands for, as well as the new costume. “I knew way too much about the world…
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DC TV News Bits: GOTHAM Adds Ra’s al Ghul, BLACK LIGHTNING’s Daughters Cast, FLASH/SUPERGIRL Musical Plot Details
Gotham has become known for incorporating as many pre-Batman versions of iconic Batman villains as possible. Over the course of three years, the Fox series has included countless characters who will one day take on the Dark Knight. So, it was only a matter of time before the Demon’s Head himself showed up. It has been announced that Game of Thrones alum Alexander Siddig has been cast as Ra’s al Ghul on Gotham. This is a recurring role, and the character will first appear later this season. This version of Ra’s is connected to the Court of Owls, with Bruce Wayne discovering him as “…the enigmatic and powerful man pulling the…
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Cress Williams Set to Play BLACK LIGHTNING for The CW
The Black Lightning pilot from Greg Berlanti, Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil was originally set up at Fox. But after the network passed, the pilot moved over to The CW, joining Berlanti’s other DC superhero shows. With production beginning next month, the pilot is currently in the casting phase. Now, we know who’s playing the titular hero. It has been announced (via The Hollywood Reporter) that Hart of Dixie and Prison Break alum Cress Williams is set to play Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning. Pierce hung up the Black Lightning identity years ago, but with a daughter hell-bent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local…
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UPDATE: The CW Orders BLACK LIGHTNING Pilot After Fox Passes
Last year, it was announced that Greg Berlanti is tackling another DC television show: Black Lightning. Berlanti is godfathering the project, which is developed by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. Fox previously picked up a pilot order, but it looks like the potential series is about to move to a new home. According to Deadline, Fox has passed on the Black Lightning pilot, which is now eyeing a move to The CW. While a final decision hasn’t been reached yet, The CW is currently the frontrunner for the project’s new home. Of course, The CW is home to all of Berlanti’s other DC superhero shows: Supergirl, The Flash, DC’s…
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BLACK LIGHTNING Pilot to Begin Production in March
Last fall, it was announced that Fox has picked up a pilot for Black Lightning, the latest television project from DC Entertainment. Husband-wife duo Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil are developing the pilot, with Arrowverse mastermind Greg Berlanti helping them bring their vision to life. Now, we know when production begins. According to My Entertainment World (via Omega Underground), the Black Lightning pilot will start shooting in March. Production will take place in New Orleans. With a start date in place, casting for Black Lightning and other characters should be announced within the coming weeks. Black Lightning stars Jefferson Pierce, who retired as the titular vigilante years ago. But with…