DC’s ‘Black Lightning’ Strikes FOX With TV Pilot Commitment

The moment DC TV power-player Greg Berlanti had in mind to develop Black Lightning as its own series, we knew it’d move fast. So it is, that FOX has nabbed the new DC drama, with a pilot production commitment for the future.

Now guaranteed at FOX, executive producer Greg Berlanti has teamed with The Game and Being Mary Jane creator Mara Brock Akil and her husband Salim Akil for the new Black Lightning series, with the Akils writing as well. So reads the synopsis:

Jefferson Pierce made his choice: he hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hell-bent on justice and 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.

Black Lightning is notable as one of DC Comics’ first major African-American superheroes, and would follow Marvel’s Luke Cage as one of the first to headline a live-action series. The comic character also has two daughters, including Anissa Pierce/Thunder and Jennifer Pierce/Lightning, both of whom have belonged to different superhero groups.

It seems unlikely of FOX’s Black Lightning to end up connecting to The CW’s Arrow-verse (then again, if they can meet Supergirl … ), but will FOX fare better with its newest DC hero, than Gotham?