Black Lightning ( TV series ) - wikipedia Black Lightning ( TV series ) Black Lightning Genre Superhero Drama Based on Characters from DC Comics Developed by Mara Brock Akil Salim Akil Starring Cress Williams China Anne McClain Nafessa Williams Christine Adams James Remar Damon Gupton Marvin `` Krondon '' Jones III Composer ( s ) Kurt Farquhar Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of episodes ( list of episodes ) Production Executive producer ( s ) Mara Brock Akil Salim Akil Greg Berlanti Sarah Schechter Location ( s ) Atlanta, Georgia Camera setup Single - camera Production company ( s ) Akil Productions Berlanti Productions DC Entertainment Warner Bros. Television Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution Release Original network The CW External links Website www.cwtv.com/shows/black-lightning/ Production website www.warnerbros.com/tv/black-lightning-season-1 Black Lightning is an upcoming American television series that will air on The CW, based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil created the series, which stars Cress Williams as the titular character alongside China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, James Remar, Damon Gupton, and Marvin `` Krondon '' Jones III. The series sees the retired Black Lightning return to the hero life and its effects on his family life. Development on the series began in September 2016 when Fox ordered a pilot production commitment for Black Lightning. In February 2017, Fox passed on the series, with it being picked up by The CW with a new script for the pilot. The CW officially ordered the series in May 2017. Black Lightning is scheduled to premiere in 2018 during the 2017 -- 2018 season, for a 13 - episode run. Contents 1 Premise 2 Cast and characters 2.1 Main 2.2 Recurring 3 Production 3.1 Development 3.2 Writing 3.3 Casting 3.4 Design 3.5 Filming 4 Episodes 5 Connection to the Arrowverse 6 References 7 External links Premise Jefferson Pierce, who retired from his superhero persona Black Lightning nine years ago after seeing the effects it had on his family, is forced to become a hero again when the rise of the local gang The One Hundred leads to increased crime and corruption in his community. Cast and characters Main Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning : A retired superhero with the ability to harness and control electricity who becomes a principal at a charter high school. He returns to fighting crime thanks to his daughter and the threat of a star student being recruited by a local gang. China Anne McClain as Jennifer Pierce : Jefferson 's younger daughter who is `` an independent, outspoken scholar - athlete with a wild streak of her own. '' Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce : Jefferson 's older daughter who is in medical school and teaches part - time at Jefferson 's school. Christine Adams as Lynn Pierce : Jefferson 's ex-wife. James Remar as Peter Gambi : Jefferson 's oldest friend, who became a father figure and mentor to him, and works as his `` tailor ''. Damon Gupton as Henderson : A veteran detective inspector with the police, who becomes an unlikely ally to Jefferson, despite his role in the community. Marvin `` Krondon '' Jones III as Tobias Whale : A former politician who rose through the ranks of local government through corruption who was brought down by Alvin Pierce, Jefferson 's father. After killing Alvin, Tobias was exiled where he becomes the leader of The 100 gang. Recurring Kyanna Simone Simpson as Kiesha : Jennifer Pierce 's best friend and the daughter of Henderson, who encourages Jennifer to challenger her perfect image. Production Development In September 2016, after being in various stages of development, Warner Bros. Television began pitching Black Lightning to networks. The project was being developed by Mara Brock Akil and her husband, Salim Akil. They were partnered with Greg Berlanti, who was behind several DC Comics properties for the studio, eventually landing at Fox with a pilot production commitment. In February 2017, Fox opted not to go forward with the project, deciding that it was `` not a good fit into its already crowded genre drama space ''. Warner Bros. Television presented the project to other networks, with The CW officially ordering a pilot for Black Lightning. The CW also opted to discard the original pilot script, as it had been written for Fox, and shoot a short presentation instead. The CW officially ordered Black Lightning to series on May 10, 2017. It will premiere in 2018 of the 2017 -- 18 season. Writing Salim Akil stated that Black Lightning would not follow the villain of the week format or be a procedural, because he wanted to `` explore the characters, even the villains ''. Casting In late February 2017, Cress Williams was cast as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning, followed a month later by the casting of China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams as his daughters, Jennifer Pierce and Anissa Pierce, respectively, and Christine Adams was cast as Lynn Pierce, Jefferson 's ex-wife. At the 2017 San Diego Comic - Con International, it was announced that James Remar and Damon Gupton had joined the cast as Pierce 's friend Peter Gambi and detective inspector Henderson, respectively. The following month, Marvin `` Krondon '' Jones III was cast as Tobias Whale. At the end of September 2017, Kyanna Simone Simpson was cast as the recurring role Kiesha. Design Black Lightning 's costume was designed by Laura Jean Shannon. Filming Filming for the series takes place in Atlanta. Episodes No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod. code U.S. viewers ( millions ) `` Pilot '' Salim Akil Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil TBA TBA TBD Connection to the Arrowverse Further information : Arrowverse Despite airing on The CW and being created by Berlanti, Mark Pedowitz, president of The CW said in May 2017 that the series `` at this time, is not part of the Arrowverse. It is a separate situation. '' Berlanti had previously stated when the series was in development at Fox that it would not crossover with his other DC Comics television properties on The CW nor would it exist in the Arrowverse. However, Akil later stated that they were not ruling out eventual crossovers. In August 2017, Pedowitz added, `` If ( the showrunners ) wish to bring it in, that is their call. We had a long discussion with the studio, Mara, Salim and myself. We were fine with them making it separate from the Arrowverse, they have a different point a view. If they end up wanting to go that way, that will be their decision. '' References Jump up ^ Kurt Farquhar ( @ KurtFarquhar ) ( March 29, 2017 ). `` So happy to be composer for Black Lightning ! Thanks Akils ! # gregberlanti # tvmusic # blacklightning # kurtfarquhar '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved August 19, 2017 -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Sydney Bucksbaum ( @ SydneyBucksbaum ) ( August 2, 2017 ). `` # TheOriginals final season and # BlackLightning will also be 13 episodes each this year. # TCA17 '' ( Tweet ). Retrieved August 2, 2017 -- via Twitter. ^ Jump up to : Abrams, Natalie ( May 18, 2017 ). `` The CW 's Black Lightning not part of Arrowverse, crossover unlikely ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 22, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Swift, Andy ( February 24, 2017 ). `` Black Lightning : Cress Williams to Star in The CW 's Latest DC Comics Pilot ''. TVLine. Retrieved February 24, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( March 2, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' CW Pilot : Nafessa Williams, China Anne McClain Cast ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Andreeva, Nellie ( March 10, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' : Christine Adams Cast As Jefferson 's Ex-Wife ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 10, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Petski, Denise ( July 22, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' Casts James Remar & Damon Gupton As Series Regulars, Watch Trailer -- Comic - Con ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved July 23, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Ramos, Dino - Ray ( August 10, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' Adds Marvin `` Krondon '' Jones III As Villain Tobias Whale ``. Deadline.com. Retrieved August 10, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Petski, Denise ( September 26, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' : Kyanna Simone Simpson Set To Recur In the CW Series ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( September 1, 2016 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' DC Superhero Series In Works From Greg Berlanti, Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( September 8, 2016 ). `` Fox Nabs ' Black Lightning ' DC Superhero Drama With Pilot Production Commitment ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( February 2, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' Drama Eyes Move To the CW To Join Greg Berlanti Comic Lineup ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( February 3, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' DC Drama From Greg Berlanti & ' The Game ' Duo Gets The CW Pilot Order ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( April 12, 2017 ). `` PILOTS 2017 : Very, Very Early Buzz Edition ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( May 10, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' & Lucy Hale 's ' Life Sentence ' Picked Up To Series By The CW ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Massabrook, Nicole ( June 11, 2017 ). `` ' Black Lightning ' TV Show Spoilers : What The EPs Revealed At ATX ''. International Business Times. Retrieved July 17, 2017. Jump up ^ Goldman, Eric ( March 29, 2017 ). `` First Look At Black Lightning From The CW 's New DC Comics Pilot ''. IGN. Retrieved March 30, 2017. Jump up ^ Andreeva, Nellie ( March 7, 2017 ). `` Pilot Locations 2017 : NY, Vancouver & Atlanta Tick Up ; LA, Toronto, Chicago Slip ''. Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2017. Jump up ^ Gerding, Stephen ( January 9, 2017 ). `` FOX 'S BLACK LIGHTNING SHOW WON 'T CROSS OVER WITH THE ARROWVERSE ''. Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 3, 2017. Jump up ^ Schwartz, Terri ( August 2, 2017 ). `` This Arrowverse Crossover Will Fully Take Place Across Every Show From Supergirl To Legends of Tomorrow ''. IGN. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017. 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Question: when does the show black lightning come out
Answer: 2018