Warner Bros. to Produce TV Series Based on Black Lightning

Following the success of DC Entertainment's TV properties, the said division of DC Comics has decided to greenlight a live-action series based on the hero Black Lightning.

According to a report from Deadline, The CW's DC Comics-based shows' lead producer Greg Berlanti is overseeing the project alongside "The Game" creator Mara Brock Akil, while her husband Salim Akil has been tapped to develop the screenplay for the pilot.

One of the first major African-American superheroes to debut on DC Comics, Black Lightning, aka Jefferson Pierce, is a former gold-medal winning decathlete based in the slums of Metropolis. It was the untimely death of his journalist father that propelled Jefferson to use his inborn electric-based abilities for good, which eventually led to the birth of the aforementioned superhero into action. He became a member of Batman's The Outsiders, prior to gaining reputation and becoming one of the Justice League's most prominent members.

Deadline's report has mentioned that they are pegging the titular character as a retired superhero who is pulled back into his costume after his daughter has been recruited to a local gang. In the comic books, Jefferson had two daughters: Anissa (aka Thunder), and Jennifer (aka Lightning).

Planning phase for the project has been going for over a year, due to the studio not finding a suitable incarnation to the concept.

Black Lightning isn't the first DC hero to appear on TV. Previously, Static Shock starred in his own animated series of the same name, followed by the CW Seed-exclusive "Vixen."

It is not yet known if the project will be included in The CW's slew of superhero shows. As of writing, the production is pitching the concept to various networks. Should The CW pick up the project, it will be joining "Arrow," "The Flash," "Legends of Tomorrow," and the newly brought "Supergirl" on its weekly timeslot.