The super-producer of DC TV series (all but Fox’s Gotham, at the moment) has his eyes set on another comic property, Black Lightning, and he’s partnering up with The Game and Being Mary Jane creators (and husband-wife team) Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil. The Akils come to the table with valuable dramatic experience writing and producing African-American-centric shows such as Being Mary Jane, The Game, Girlfriends and Soul Food. In the books, Jefferson has two daughters, both of whom have followed in his superhero footsteps – Anissa Pierce aka Thunder, who is a member of the Outsiders, and Jennifer Pierce, aka Lightning, recruited by the Justice Society of America.
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According to Deadline, the series will be written by the Akils, and will focus on Jefferson Pierce, who has hung up his superhero suit and given up his vigilante work until his daughter starts her own pursuit of justice. Netflix, of course, has Marvel drama Luke Cage due this month.
The most logical place for Black Lightning to go is The CW, which has (more or less) become the unofficial home for DC’s television projects.
Would you watch a television adaptation of Black Lightning? The project is now being pitched to networks, per Deadline.
Black Lightning will be an intriguing addition to the so-called Berlantiverse of The CW sometime down the line. Let us know why we should be excited about this hero’s story! Regardless, it’s a good time to be a DC Comics fan. That’s handy, since the Justice Society is playing a prominent role on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow this season, and Black Lightning is now being shopped around, not specifically attached to The CW.
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Besides his numerous superhero projects at The CW, Berlanti and his production company oversee NBC’s Blindspot and have a pair of new shows – a drama called Criminal and a comedy called Raised By Wolves – in development at ABC this year.
