First Look at the CW's Black Lightning TV Show

Retired no more.

By Eric Goldman

The CW continues to dive into the world of DC Comics with the new TV pilot Black Lightning and now our first look at the title character has been revealed.

Check out the image below to see Cress Williams (Hart of Dixie) as Black Lightning, in the latest DC Comics-based project from executive producer Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC's Legends of Tomorrow).

Cress Williams stars as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning.

The Black Lightning costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon, whose credits include the upcoming Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Jungle Book, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Blade: Trinity, Good Girls Revolt, and Iron Man (for which she was nominated for a Costume Designers Guild Award).

Created in 1977, Black Lightning was the first African-American DC Comics superhero to get his own standalone comic book. In the TV pilot, Jefferson Pierce (Criss) has retired from life as a superhero, only to be pulled back into action thanks to "one daughter hell-bent on justice and the other a star student being recruited by a local gang."

Black Lightning, DC Comics style.

Executive producer/writer/director Salim Akil (Being Mary Jane, The Game) said, in a statement, “I knew way too much about the world as a young boy growing up in Richmond, California. I was no stranger to violence, death, hopelessness or the feeling that no one cared about what was happening in my life. Comics were a great way for me to escape. I was about 13 when Black Lightning was created, and finally there was a Black Super Hero that gave a damn about our neighborhood and our lives. Resurrecting him at a time in our society when a sense of hope is lacking... Black Lightning will be that hope. And in updating the suit, it will signal to a new generation that it’s time to harness and release our power, and become our own Super Heroes.”

Black Lightning is now filming in Atlanta. The CW will decide on whether they will pick it up as a series for the 2017-2018 TV season by the Upfronts in May.

Eric Goldman is Executive Editor of IGN TV. You can follow him on Twitter at @TheEricGoldman, IGN at ericgoldman-ign and Facebook at http://ift.tt/LQFqjj.

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