Black Lightning may not be a proper part of the CW’s superhero universe, but it remains one of the most important shows on the network—and one of Den of Geek’s Best New Shows of 2018. Which is why it’s such good news that Black Lightning has been renewed for a Season 3!
Black Lightning, which stars Cress Williams as the eponymous superhero working to help the people of Freeland as both a vigilante and an educator, wrapped up its second season in March.
The news of a Black Lightning season 3 was announced at January’s bi-annual Television Critics Association, along with the renewal of nine other shows, including The Flash, Arrow, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. (Hopefully, this means we’ll be getting even more crossover events past Crisis on Infinite Earths!) And, yes, we know what you’re wondering: Supernatural was renewed for a Season 15.
read more: Crisis On Infinite Earths — What to Expect From the Crossover
Advertisement
Cress Williams, aka Black Lightning himself, recently confirmed via Instagram that his superhero character will be appearing in the big Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover event. This will be a first for the Black Lightning character, as the show has stayed mostly separate from the other DC superhero TV shows airing on The CW.
The Black Lightning TV show will not be a part of the crossover event, but several members of the Black Lightning cast will be. Williams chatted with EW this week about his excitement around the event, saying: “I was excited [when it was announced], but not, I’d say, surprised because the fans have been wanting this since they announced that we were a show. They were already like, ‘Are you going to be in the crossover? When are you gonna be in the crossover?’ They always wanted it from day one.”
Who is Williams most excited to work with?
It sounds like the politically correct answer, but it’s not: It’s all of them. I feel like being Black Lightning and Stephen Amell’s Arrow character, they have that kind of vigilante quality that’s similar and a grittiness that’s similar. That will be a lot of fun. But I’ve interacted with The Flash cast quite a bit just in random places, and I really enjoy being around them. I’m just starting to get to know Melissa. She’s legitimately one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I really look forward to playing with all of them and acting alongside all of them, and swapping stories with all of them. I think it’ll be really fun.
Black Lightning Season 3 Trailer
We have our first look at Black Lightning Season 3!
Black Lightning Season 3 Release Date
Black Lightning season 3 was set to premiere date on Oct. 21. Now The CW has decided to bring it to the airwaves earlier. Black Lightning season 3 will officially premiere on October 7, taking its usual spot on Monday nights at 9pm ET, where it will be paired with All American, which is back for a second season.
Black Lightning Season 3 Cast
The main crew will be back for Season 3, including Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce, China Anne McClain as Jennifer, Nafessa Williams as Anissa, Christine Adams as Lynn, Marvin Jones III as Tobias, Damon Gupton as Inspector Henderson, and James Remar as Gambi. We’d love to see Chantal Thuy (aka Grace) upped to a series regular in Season 3.
Black Lightning Season 3 Story Details
We’ve got an official synopsis for Black Lightning Season 3. Check it out:
Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a man with many faces. He is a former Olympic athlete, respected educator and a father of two. He is also Black Lightning, superpowered protector of the fictional city of Freeland with the ability to sense and harness electricity.
Jefferson is not the only one with powers and multiple faces. His oldest daughter, Anissa Pierce (Nafessa Williams) is a medical student, health clinic volunteer and dedicated social activist. She is also the super hero known as Thunder who possesses the ability to drastically increase her density, giving her invulnerability and super strength for as long as she can hold her breath.
Finally, Jefferson’s youngest daughter, Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain), is a fiery teen who inherited her father’s athletic gifts but not his desire to be an athlete. Jennifer also inherited super powers. Her body generates pure electrical energy and she possesses the potential to be more powerful than Anissa or Jefferson and is known as Lightning.
Lynn Stewart (Christine Adams) is Jefferson’s ex-wife but they are still very much in love in addition to sharing the load as co-parents. She’s also an expert in metahuman medicine. Together, the Pierce family faces the challenges of a declined urban community, including a menacing gang that calls itself The 100 and infamous gangster, Tobias Whale (Marvin “Krondon” Jones III). Worse, Freeland has been plagued by government-sponsored experiments and drug trafficking that have created metahumans and addicts while making Freeland a target of a dangerous foreign power, Markovia.
Fortunately, the family has allies in their fight, Jefferson’s surrogate father and a former covert superspy, Peter Gambi (James Remar), as well as Jefferson’s friend and neighbor, the committed and scrupulously honest Deputy Police Chief Henderson (Damon Gupton).
More news on Black Lightning Season 3 as we hear it.
Kayti Burt is a staff editor covering books, TV, movies, and fan culture at Den of Geek. Read more of her work here or follow her on Twitter @kaytiburt.