I guess we'll see if all of the action takes place in the secret base. Or if they announce any guest stars in recurring roles that show up for one episode.
Black Lightning’ DC Superhero Series In Works From Greg Berlanti, Mara Brock Akil & Salim Akil
- Thread starter Enterprise is Great
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A site called Splash Report claims to have details on the Black Lightning pilot script:
Okay... That indicates that the series is set in Los Angeles's Watts neighborhood, rather than Metropolis's Suicide Slum as in the comics. If this is accurate, that would seem to suggest it isn't going to be on Supergirl's Earth-38, because National City is basically the surrogate for Los Angeles there.
Okay... That indicates that the series is set in Los Angeles's Watts neighborhood, rather than Metropolis's Suicide Slum as in the comics. If this is accurate, that would seem to suggest it isn't going to be on Supergirl's Earth-38, because National City is basically the surrogate for Los Angeles there.
People have assumed for years in the comics that Metropolis was the DCU's version of New York City, but that's recently been debunked since it's been established that there is a version of the actual New York City that exists in the DCU, and I don't see why the same couldn't be true for Los Angeles on Earth-38 in regards to National City, so these new rumored plot details don't really tell us much in terms of whether or not there could be any connection established between it and the Arrowverse as it currently exists.
Personally, though, I don't really see much evidence that there IS going to be any such connection made should the series be picked up, even with it potentially airing on The CW.
Personally, though, I don't really see much evidence that there IS going to be any such connection made should the series be picked up, even with it potentially airing on The CW.
"Recently?" The Teen Titans have been based in NYC since at least 1980. Metropolis and Gotham are both New York surrogates (in fact, a very early Batman comic claims to be set in NYC, and of course "Gotham" is an old nickname for New York City), coexisting with each other and an actual NYC. There's nothing new about that. In fact, it was alleged once that the DC Earth was actually larger than our Earth, to accommodate all the made-up cities coexisting alongside all the real ones. The '90s Atlas of the DC Universe put Gotham in New Jersey and Metropolis in Delaware.
In the abstract, sure, it's hypothetically possible -- but it'd be problematical given that National City has so many recognizable LA landmarks in its skyline. But I'm talking about what it shows regarding creator intent. If the creators had intended the show to be set on Earth-38, they probably would've used Metropolis or National City as its setting. The fact that they went with LA suggests that they probably don't want to set it on that Earth. The fact that it's reportedly going for a much darker, grittier tone than Supergirl suggests that too.
I saw something that indicated that this development was fairly recent... hence why I worded my comment the way that I did.
Then whoever gave you that impression was massively wrong.
To be fair, it doesn't sound like this premise would be at all believable if it were set in SG's version of Metropolis or National City. Kara's never come anywhere near a neighborhood THAT bad on the show, and Clark's been supering for years, so the idea that an entire neighborhood has been in a massive gang war for ten years and he hasn't put an end to it is pretty weird.
But I agree they probably don't want something this dark trying to share the same space as Supergirl.
No pun intended?
Good point. There's still a chance it could be on Earth-1, if BL's decade-ago superheroics were secret enough. Either that or it'll be adding another separate, parallel Earth to the CW multiverse. (Because, come on, there's no way they wouldn't try to top "Invasion!" with a five-series crossover at some point.)
Character descriptions and synopsis...
JEFFERSON PIERCE:
“Male, African-American, late 30s to 50. Handsome, fit, with an athletic build. Former 3-time gold medal decathlon winner who is now principal of a high school in South Central Los Angeles. A father figure to his student and hero to the local community. JEFFERSON is charming, charismatic, smart, and has both warmth and humor. He is devoted to his two daughters and remains deeply in love with his ex-wife LYNN. He also has a great passion for justice and a quick temper that he has spent years learning how to control. Think Idris Elba. LEAD.
JENNIFER:
Female. African-American, LEGAL 18 to play 16. JEFFERSON’s younger daughter. JENNIFER is a scholar athlete; beautiful with a lean, athletic runner’s build. She is the entitled feminist of the Pierce family. Independent and outspoken with a wild streak. SERIES REGUALR, ASP.
ANISSA:
Female. African-American, to play 22. JEFFERSON’s elder daughter. Beautiful, quick-witted and intelligent; intense and passionate. ANISSA has a great respect for her father. ANISA balances the demands of medical school with her duties as a part time teacher at JEFFERSON’s school. SERIES REGULAR, ASP.
LYNN: Female, African-American, mid 30s to 50. Exudes confidence and intelligence. Beautiful, but not to be trifled with. Can exhibit both great emotional depth as well as a flirtatious, mischievous side. SERIES REGULAR, ASP.
.
“Black Lightning centers on Jefferson Pierce. He made his choice: He hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hellbent 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.”
JEFFERSON PIERCE:
“Male, African-American, late 30s to 50. Handsome, fit, with an athletic build. Former 3-time gold medal decathlon winner who is now principal of a high school in South Central Los Angeles. A father figure to his student and hero to the local community. JEFFERSON is charming, charismatic, smart, and has both warmth and humor. He is devoted to his two daughters and remains deeply in love with his ex-wife LYNN. He also has a great passion for justice and a quick temper that he has spent years learning how to control. Think Idris Elba. LEAD.
JENNIFER:
Female. African-American, LEGAL 18 to play 16. JEFFERSON’s younger daughter. JENNIFER is a scholar athlete; beautiful with a lean, athletic runner’s build. She is the entitled feminist of the Pierce family. Independent and outspoken with a wild streak. SERIES REGUALR, ASP.
ANISSA:
Female. African-American, to play 22. JEFFERSON’s elder daughter. Beautiful, quick-witted and intelligent; intense and passionate. ANISSA has a great respect for her father. ANISA balances the demands of medical school with her duties as a part time teacher at JEFFERSON’s school. SERIES REGULAR, ASP.
LYNN: Female, African-American, mid 30s to 50. Exudes confidence and intelligence. Beautiful, but not to be trifled with. Can exhibit both great emotional depth as well as a flirtatious, mischievous side. SERIES REGULAR, ASP.
.
“Black Lightning centers on Jefferson Pierce. He made his choice: He hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hellbent 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.”
I wonder why all those descriptions say "African-American." Judging from the age references, the descriptions refer to the actor types they're looking for rather than the characters. And since this is a CW show, it would presumably be shot in Vancouver, so a lot of the candidates would be Afro-Canadian instead. And if they're looking for an Idris Elba type for Pierce, that implies they'd be open to English actors too.
The Pilot is being shot in Atlanta in March.
Oh, okay. Still, the point about English actors stands. And of course some Canadian actors have starred in shows filmed in America, e.g. William Shatner.
I'm sure "African-American" is being used as PC code for "black".
What?????
I'm sure an American wrote it without even considering the question of whether the potential actors would even be American or not. No real deeper meaning to find there.