Deadline reports that a Black Lightning spinoff is in the works at The CW with the network developing a backdoor pilot revolving around Painkiller. Actor Jordan Colloway will reprise the role, with the plan for this pilot to air as the seventh episode of the main show's upcoming fourth season. That premieres next February, and this is a similar approach to Barry Allen's introduction in Arrow.
Painkiller is an established character in Black Lightning, though, and this is definitely a pleasant surprise (in the COVID era, there aren't many networks committing to pilots). As the trade explains, "Calloway plays Khalil Payne, a young man ridden with the guilt of his troubled past from his former life in Freeland City, where, as a super-enhanced killing machine known as Painkiller, he was both a member of Tobias Whale’s gang and a weapon of Agent Odell and the shadowy ASA."
"After attempting to bury the darker, devastatingly lethal Painkiller part of his persona, Khalil has distanced himself away from everyone he knows and loves in a new city, Akashic Valley, in order to find peace, but peace never comes easy for men with pasts like Khalil Payne and Painkiller," the description continues. "As his violent, destructive history crashes his idyllic new beginning, Khalil is thrusted back into action with a new mission – bring justice where he once gave out punishment – but to do that, he will first have to deal with and harness his darker side, Painkiller."
Black Lightning showrunner Salim Akil will write, direct, and executive produce Painkiller.
The Painkiller character first appeared in the comics books in 1995 and was created by Tony Isabella with Eddie Newell. Adding another diverse series to its lineup makes sense for The CW, and it will be interesting seeing how this backdoor pilot is received. The show hasn't been ordered to series yet, so we'll have to wait and see how that performs when it airs sometime next year!