Black Lightning Trailer: First Look At The CW’s Newest Superhero

It’s obvious that The CW is expanding it’s current lineup of superheroes in the “Arrowverse.” Fans have now been given their first ever action-packed look at the network’s newest superhero, “Black Lightning.” The titular character is played by Cress Williams, and isn’t due until the mid-season 2017-2018 television schedule.

Black Lightning Trailer Recap

The premise of the show focuses on “Black Lightning’s” backstory, dating all the way back from 2005. The “more than a superhero situation” follows Jefferson Pierce having retired from being “Black Lightning.” He leaves his superhero identity behind after fighting the notorious The One Hundred gang for a long time.

He assumes the role of a high school principal and vows to always be there for his wife and two daughters. But as the crimes committed by the gang continue to escalate, Jefferson is forced to don the costume once again. It’s also shown towards the end that one of his daughters have the same powers as “Black Lightning.”

A story like this doesn’t exactly fit well with a superhero’s story, but it’s interesting nonetheless. He is also significantly older and more mature than his co-“Arrowverse” heroes “Green Arrow,” “the Flash,” and “Supergirl.” His responsibilities as both a hero and a father go beyond being a young adult in a world full of metahumans.

Possible Tie-In With The Arrowverse

With the same theme and tone for “Black Lightning” compared to the other CW superhero shows, it seems like the network is aiming to keep him at a fair distance from the “Arrowverse.” After all, the show needs to weave it’s own story and unique take on the DC Comics superhero that it draws inspiration from without having to worry about shared universes or even crossovers.

But with “Black Lightning” a CW show, one can not erase the question of it’s relation to the “Green Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” and “Legends of Tomorrow” storylines. A tie-in episode is possible, but according to The CW’s president Mark Pedowitz, that’s not likely. There are no plans to integrate Black Lightning into the Arrowverse “at this time” (note the emphasis of the phrase). However, the network is “going to have something very unique in Black Lightning, which is a little bit more than a superhero situation.”

It will be interesting to see how the series would turn out, and fans are definitely all in for the newest superhero in town.

“Black Lightning” is scheduled for a mid-season premiere on The CW. Watch the trailer below: