While Black Lightning is certainly proving to be an incredible standalone series, much fan speculation rages on regarding if, in fact, it’ll be welcomed into the Arrowverse next season, especially since Jefferson Pierce was counted among DC superheroes suiting up in a recent promo released by The CW.
Either way, the rookie show has at least followed the blueprint laid by other popular DC TV series insofar that it has future superheroes already built-in. Really, even though only the former has begun exhibiting her powers, us readers of comic books know that Anissa and Jennifer Pierce are fated to become Thunder and Lightning, respectively. In a way, this is similar to what The Flash did with characters like Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow, who later went on to embrace their respective destinies as Vibe and Killer Frost.
Perhaps realizing how The CW can’t get enough of costumed heroes, Yahoo Movies UK asked Black Lightning executive producer and showrunner Salim Akil if Thunder and Lightning will ever receive a spinoff of their own, to which he replied:
“Not yet, but you know anything is possible.”
Likely hoping that more’s on the horizon, they soon followed by asking if a “Lightningverse” of sorts could be in the cards, with Akil offering the following:
“Yeah let’s hope so, we want to entertain. I know this show is topical and it has some political merit to it, but we also want to entertain and make people laugh and get them excited about the fight sequences, and the characters that are coming in, as well as the villains that are coming in. We hope it will be a well-rounded experience so yes, we’d love to see other superheroes come through.”
To be specific, he says that “Static could be interesting.” Honestly, we’d be sincerely shocked if he doesn’t show up at some point because he’d essentially be this series’ equivalent of Roy Harper or Wally West. Still, we advise that you don’t assume the hypothetical “Lightningverse” to be home to a myriad of its own spinoffs, as it sounds like Akil is more so just hoping to flesh out his corner of the DC Universe.
Black Lightning airs on Tuesday nights on The CW.