Filmmaker Greg Berlanti speaks onstage during the CW Superheroes panel at The Reef on October 29, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo : Getty Images/ Alberto E. Rodriguez)
Producer Greg Berlanti's "Black Lightning" has been given a pilot order by the CW Network. The series was initially being developed for Fox, which is also home to the "Gotham" series, but the network passed on it. The series was then picked up by the CW.
"Black Lightning" is based on a DC comic book series. The series will follow Jefferson Pierce, one of the first African-American DC superheroes. The original comic books debuted in 1977 and was created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden.
Berlantii will serve as producer along with Mara Brock Akil and her husband Salim. The latter two will serve as executive producers and will write for the show, Entertainment Weekly reported.
The CW is already home to four other DC superhero shows: "Arrow," "The Flash," "Legends of Tomorrow" and "Supergirl." All of these shows are produced by Berlanti. He is also producing the new "Riverdale" series which is based on the "Archie" comic books.
If "Black Lightning" is greenlit it will be fifth DC superhero show on the network and Berlanti's sixth show as a producer. It will also be the second Berlanti show to be moved from a different network to the CW, Variety reported. "Supergirl" was initially launched on CBS but was moved to the CW after its first season.
The report also claims that if the show is greenlit the CW Network will stagger the five shows throughout the year. This will be in contrast to the current method of launching them all simultaneously, with each show airing on a different day of the week.
All of the other DC superhero shows Berlanti produces on the CW have been given an early renewal for the 2017-2018 season. This also includes "Arrow," which was initially planned to only run for five seasons.
It is still unclear if "Black Lightning" will be adjusted to take place in the same universe as the other superhero shows on the CW. If it does then the show will be available for a massive five-way crossover.
No release date or cast has yet been announced. The trailer for "The Flash" Season 3 Episode 12, one of Berlanti's most popular series to date, can be viewed below:
