SDCC 2017: Black Lightning Cast Talk Why Now
When the DC/CW universe grow to four shows (at the time one every night save for Friday) people wondered whether a full on 5-day layout was coming. Well, that didn’t happen, but a fifth show was still the topic of conversation. But few would have thought that Black Lightning would be the 5th show. Yet, it’s coming, and it’ll be hear by this upcoming midseason. For the first time, the cast and crew assembled at San Diego Comic Con to talk about why this show matters and why now is the perfect time for it to arrive:
“Why Black Lightning? Because I think it’s time. I think Jefferson Pierce is the epiotme of what black men are. He loves his wife. He loves his children. He loves his community,” shared Executive Producer Salim Akil. “This family is like the Obamas of the superhero world… When we look on the news and we see there are 125 shootings in Chicago… there are no superheroes to go save them… that’s why we need Black Lightning.”
He went on to note the impact that the show will hopefully have:
I also think we’re going to be giving something back to the American culture… what I expect by this time next year… what I love is the idea that I will be able to see… little black boys and little black girls have a choice. They can be Batman, or they can be Black Lightning. They gave be Supergirl, or they can be Thunder or Lightning.”