With the pilot now shooting in Atlanta, Warner Bros. Television and The CW have released the first official image of Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce, a.k.a. Black Lightning. Designed by Laura Jean Shannon, whose credits include the The Jungle Book and Iron Man came up with this costime for the hero who was the first African-American super hero to have his own standalone comic book series.
According to the official synopis, Jefferson Pierce made his choice: he hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with one daughter hell-bent on justice and the other a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend - Black Lightning. Whether or not the show will be tied to Arrow and The Flash in any way isn't clear.
Black Lightning executive producer, writer and Director, Salim Akil, explains, "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." What do you guys think of this first look at Black Lightning?