According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox has landed a new superhero series based on character Black Lightning. The series will also be titled Black Lightning and is being produced by Greg Berlanti, Salim, and Mara Brock Akil. The project originated from Warner Bros TV, where Berlanti and the Akils are under overall deals.
Black Lightning was one of DC Comics’ first major African-American superheroes and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden. The superhero character debuted in 1977 and the series will be an hourlong drama that will center on Jefferson Pierce, AKA Black Lightning, who hung up his suit along with his secret identity years ago. But, after his daughter is determined to get justice and a star student is being recruited by a local gang, he’ll find himself being pulled back into the costume as the wanted vigilante also known as Black Lightning.
Akils will write and executive produce the project with Berlanti and his producing partner Sarah Schechter. Moreover, Akil Productions and Berlanti Productions will produce in association with Warner Bros. TV.
The Black Lightning series has not been officially picked up but if it does, it would be the first broadcast series to feature an African-American superhero as its lead. Of course, Netflix has Marvel drama Luke Cage which will premiere at the end of the month. Black Lightning will possibly join Fox’s other DC Comics-inspired drama, Gotham, which centers on a young Bruce Wayne and features other characters including Catwoman, Penguin and Poison Ivy. Berlanti is certainly no stranger to superhero series. He has served as executive producer for Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl which are all currently airing on The CW. Black Lightning is one of the first sales that Akils has landed under their new overall deal at Warner Bros. TV.