Black Lightning Scoop: Khalil Payne’s DC Comics Inspiration Revealed
We might not be seeing Jennifer Pierce and Khalil Payne rekindling their love on The CW’s Black Lightning any time soon.
But… we’ve at least gotten confirmation that the character of Khalil is inspired by an actual villain from the Black Lightning comic book.
According to the description on official promotional photos released by The CW, Khalil, played by Jordan Calloway, is the television version of Painkiller, a short-lived supervillain created in the ’90s who had the ability to anesthetize his opponents.
Painkiller debuted in Black Lightning Vol 2 #2 (1995) and was created by Tony Isabella and Eddie Newell. In the comics, he has the metahuman ability to anesthetize his targets or dull their senses. He has great strength and fighting abilities. He also has dreadlocks with knives on the tips that he uses as weapons.
Black Lightning airs its season finale this Tuesday at 9pm ET on The CW.
Marvin Jones III Breaks Down Tobias’ Return on Black Lightning
Tobias Whale made his triumphant return to The CW’s Black Lightning this week. Actor Marvin “Krondon” Jones III filled EW in on what Tobias has been up to during his hiatus from television screens.
He took a lot of losses, and he’s been going through a recalibration process. After the loss of his sister, the only person in the world he cared about, he’s trying to balance between that idea of who he is as powerhouse and succumbing to the consuming nature of revenge. Making decisions when you’re consumed by revenge ultimately results in your detriment. He’s struggling with that, especially during that opening scene in the mirror. ‘How am I gonna handle this now? I still have to maintain my position after suffering these losses.’ That’s where he’s at.
Jones discussed what it was like to finally have extended screen time with BL star Cress Williams.
Cress and I haven’t had a lot of scenes together, we’ve been on opposite sides of the wall. When we have met it’s been really quick, like the second he blasted me I was out of there. With this one, there was a lot of training involved, and we had to get really close and personal. I wanted to come to the fight overly prepared, because I knew he was going to do the same, and we could have time to work this out. We were actually talking about it over the weekend, how it’s interesting we didn’t really use doubles in this fight. Him and I have such a closeness, representing two perspectives on the show. To come together in the moment and create that magic, it was tiring. That scene was really intense for everybody — me, Cress, Jordan Calloway. We were in that school for 14 or 15 hours shooting every intricate detail of that scene. Physically it was traumatic, especially for the guy with the big suit on. I’m just hoping it came off great and people enjoy it. It was one of our bigger scenes we’ve done, but they have even bigger scenes happening next week, so worry not.
Jones also discussed how relevant the school fight sequence is during our present climate of school shootings consistently being in the news.
That association is to be expected, because we are in a time where that’s something we hear a lot about. Having Khalil walking through the school shooting darts, it definitely lends itself to remind you of some of the happenings we’ve been faced with in that environment. But it’s different in the sense that it is make-believe and it’s supernatural. Black Lightning is there because he’s protecting the school. That’s why he’s there. I would hope that when people see this show, they take upon themselves the responsibility we have to face adversity and things that are trying to come and destroy us, and band together. I think that’s what that scene represents.
Black Lightning airs its season finale this Tuesday at 9pm ET on The CW.
H/T: EW
Arrow Star Stephen Amell Believes Black Lightning Crossover Will “Eventually” Happen
New CW hit Black Lightning hasn’t officially joined the Arrowverse just yet, but Arrow star Stephen Amell believes that’s just a small technicality.
Amell was recently asked about the crossover potential and here’s what he had to say:
Everyone pretends like we’re not going to eventually cross over with Black Lightning but we’re probably gonna cross over with Black Lightning because that’s just the way that the world works… I think that anything you can do to expand the universe and to build out what we’ve built on our show would be great. So, I’m glad that show’s doing well, I hope that it has a very successful run, and I would love to be a small part of it in some way shape, or form.
H/T: ComicBookMovie
The CW Renews Arrowverse Shows (and 5 More!)
The CW renewed 10 series on Monday, including all of your fan favorite superhero dramas.
The network renewed all of the Berlanti-verse shows: Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl and Black Lightning all got picked up (for Seasons 7, 5, 4, 4 and 2).
Critically acclaimed dramas Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (entering Season 4) and Jane the Virgin (renewed for Season 5) were also renewed.
Fan favorites Riverdale (renewed for Season 3) and Supernatural (entering Season 14) will be back, including the ratings-challenged cult fave Dynasty (returning for Season 2).
H/T: TVLine
Black Lightning Promo: “Lawanda: The Book of Burial”
Tobias Whale isn’t the only criminal Jefferson Pierce will have to deal with. Another criminal is at work in the next episode of Black Lightning.
The trailer for “Lawanda: The Book of Burial” revealed singer and actor Jill Scott’s debut on the series as Lady Eve, The CW’s version of the DC Comics supervillain.
Lady Eve was first hinted at in the pilot of the series, when Jefferson attends a fundraising event for Garfield High School, where he serves as principal. In a quick scene, his secretary advises him to “turn on the charm” to impress a potential donor, Lady Eve from the Blackbird Funeral Parlor.
Black Lightning‘s next episode, “Lawanda: The Book of Burial,” airs Tuesday, January 30th on The CW.
Source: Comicbook
Black Lightning Promo Video and Photos For Episode 1
The premiere of Black Lightning is just around the corner and with that a new promo video for the first episode titled “The Resurrection.”
Along with the promo video, The CW has released promotional photos of the first episode.
Check them out in the gallery below:
Black Lightning premieres Jan. 15 on The CW.
Source: SpoilerTV
New Black Lightning “Resurrection” Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=wnJ3O_0dnlA
A new trailer has been released for The CW’s upcoming show Black Lightning!
In this one we see a bit more than our famous Jefferson Pierece (Cress Williams). In this trailer, we get our first look at villain Tobias Whale (Marvin “Krondon” Jones III,) leader of the local gang, The One Hundred.
“Do you believe in the resurrection?” Tobias asks in the trailer, but it’s not religion the gangster is talking about. Instead, he’s referring to the return of the vigilante Black Lightning. It’s a resurrection that Tobias is clearly not happy about it.
Black Lightning premieres January 16 @ 9/8c on The CW.
Source: Comicbook
New Black Lightning Poster Released
The Black Lightning premiere is just around the corner and to raise excitement a new poster has been released!
The new show is partially produced by Greg Berlanti, but will not a part of the Arrowverse (at least not yet). Tony Isabella (with Trevor Von Eeden) originally created the character for DC Comics.
The show premieres on January 16, 2018 at 9 p.m. EST on the CW.
Check out the new poster below:
Source: Syfy Wire
Black Lightning Trailer Teases Origin Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lfa31bSzN0
The Black Lightning trailer has been released!
The trailer teases at the origin of Black Lightning as we see Cress Williams’ Jefferson Pierce working on his costume.
Black Lightning is the fifth DC superhero series on the CW network.
The show will hit the CW on Tuesday, January 16, 2018.
Source: Nerdist
Teaser Released for Upcoming Black Lightning
The CW has released a teaser for the upcoming Black Lightning.
The show will follow Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams,) a family man and high school principal with a secret. Nine years ago he was a superhero who was able to control and harness electricity, but now, as seen in the teaser, he will have to call upon those powers again.
Last week, the CW revealed the 2018 premiere date.
Black Lightning will debut Tuesday, January 16th at 9/8 c.