The CWs superhero slate is expanding even further withBlack Lightning.
Below, Salim Akil previews the new drama ahead of its Comic-Con debut.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Why Black Lightning?
Credit: The CW
It was a no-brainer; thats the easiest way to say it.
It was just a no-brainer when you know the character.
And when you look at superheroes, of course you want to identify with them.
That is the power of storytelling and that is the power of images.
Were getting more and more diverse superheroes these days is it added pressure for you guys?
Or are you honored to get to represent that?Its not pressure, its joy.
I know what that means and I understand how that feels.
Its a privilege and its a blessing.
All his human qualities are based in love and caring.
As a superhero, hes an extension of his personal life, right?
He also has to deal with the dark side of things.
What an amazing duality and what an amazing conversation to have in one character.
He did hang it up.
They have to go out on their own, they have to do things on their own.
Protecting his daughters is what brings him back initially.
Thats what brings him back is the love for his daughters and for his community.
His villains are people that viewers hear about and read about every day.
I think thats unique.
The third thing is hes black.
[Laughs] We dont have a lot of black superheroes.
Again, hes a father, hes older, hes wiser.
He is a man of man colors, no pun intended.
Thats what makes him so identifiable so you could relate to him.
Thats what makes him a beautiful character to explore.
The Black Lightning comics were really great about tapping into social issues still relevant today.
Its a wonderful platform to have an American conversation.
This is an American story seen through the eyes of someone who happens to be a black man.
Now we do black on purpose, but he is an American.
Hes an Olympian who represented his country well.
He is the American dream.
Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce, is the American dream.
Its a great opportunity to have a conversation with everyone about a myriad of things.
Its not just Black Lives Matter; his daughter is a lesbian.
Were going to have conversations about what that means in America and in families.
So thats a whole other conversation that were going to have.
Thats the main reason: I want people to get to know this family.
I want them to get to understand what kind of villains that hes fighting.
There aint many superheroes down in the ghetto, or so-called ghettos.
I wanted people to get to know them first.
Now, you know, everything is possible.
What are some of the cool things your version of Black Lightning can do logistically?
This suit, unlike what we perceived as the first suit, is bullet proof.
Most kevlar, [a bullet] hits you and you feel it.
I call it liquid kevlar, and I dont even know if it exists.
That will be exciting and fun.
Other than that, Im not telling you anything else.
[Laughs]
At ATX, you guys said you wouldnt be doing a villain of the week.
Why not go that route?Im sure youve readMoby Dick.
When I readMoby Dick, I really understood the whale.
No pun intended, but I really did, I got the point of view.
So, in my storytelling, I really do want to understand the villain.
What is motivating you to be this villain?
What was your childhood like?
That didnt excuse their behavior, but it did complicate the idea of them being this horrible person.
It complicated it, because you knew the human side of them.
I think that makes the story that more dynamic and that more exciting.
So thats why I didnt want to do a villain of the week.
It was a proud moment for us, regardless of how you felt about his politics.
Black Lightningwill debut midseason on The CW.
Stay tuned for our interview with Cress Williams on suiting up as the title character.
