Black Lightning is ready to strike a devastating blow to the heart of crime in the first look at his upcoming DC Comics-based TV series.
The latest superhero show from ArrowVerse producer Greg Berlanti is a story of redemption and responsibility, as a long-retired superhero dons his mask again to save his family. Have a look:
Berlanti is producing Black Lightning along with Salim Akil and his wife Mara Brock Akil, writer behind The CW's former comedy hit The Game and the NAACP Image Award-nominated Being Mary Jane.
Prison Break and Hart of Dixie veteran Cress Williams plays the title character, whose quiet civilian life is suddenly shattered by the rise of gang violence in his community.
Here's the official synopsis: "Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning.
"However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain) grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn (Christine Adams), suffered. Almost a decade later, Pierce's crime-fighting days are long behind him…or so he thought.
What to Read Next
"But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns — to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community."
The only bad news is that, at present, Black Lightning will not take place in the ArrowVerse because it films in Atlanta rather than Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow's Vancouver.
"We do not aim to do a five-way crossover," CW president Mark Pedowitz told reporters at Thursday's Upfronts presentation.
"Black Lightning, at this time, is not part of the Arrowverse. It is a separate situation. But there will be a big fourth quarter crossover with all four of the shows that are on in the fall."
Keep in mind, though, that The CW said the same thing about Supergirl at one point and now it's crossing over with The Flash fairly regularly.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.
Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
