Conceived by Salim Akil, “Black Lightning” is an American action superhero drama television series that debuted on January 16, 2018, on The CW. The series is based on the DC Comics of the exact title by Tony Isabella. It stars Cress Williams, China Anne McCain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton, James Remar, Jordan Calloway, and Chantal Thuy.
The series has so far produced four seasons in total and although many fans were looking forward to the fourth season. However, despite its huge success and flooded with positive reviews, it looks like fans won’t be getting any as the showrunners decided to end Black Lightning with the fourth and final season.
Here’s what we know about season 4 of Black Lightning.
Will There Be a Season 4 of Black Lightning?
Sadly, no. The series has indeed come to an end, the fourth season being the final outing of the series.
Series creator Salim Akil reveals he felt that the show would be a different extension to The CW’s slate when it was released, as well as how significant it was for representation that the show concentrated on a Black superhero and his kin. Akil in a statement said:
“Thank you to the phenomenal cast, writers and crew without whom none of this would’ve been possible. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve been able to do and the moments we’ve been able to create in bringing DC’s first African-American family of superheroes to life for the culture. I’m very grateful to Peter Roth, Warner Bros. TV, Mark Pedowitz, The CW Network and Greg Berlanti for their partnership and support of my vision at every step of this journey. While Season Four may be the end of one journey, I’m extremely excited to usher in a new chapter and continue collaboration with The CW as we tell the story of Painkiller.”
When Is The Release Date For Season 5 of Black Lightning?
Back in January, The CW ordered the superhero series for a fourth installment which was launched on February 8, 2021. The fourth season served as the final outing of the series.
Speaking to Deadline in May 2021, series creator Salim Akil was asked if the pandemic impacted the decision to finish the series in season 4 or if the storytelling was shaped in the last season. Akil said: “No, I think it was [already] going to end at Season 4. But of course, actor availability, stunt availability—it was always in flux because of Covid.”
The show apparently had multiple endings. Akil explained: “Well, it would be a different seasonal arc without Covid, and of course, we had a cast member [China Anne McClain] exit, so it would have been a different, more family-oriented arc. We wanted to deal with trauma in the Black community, and how people deal with trauma in certain communities. I think we still managed to do that, but we had to sort of readjust the approach, and it’s a very subtle thing. But subtle things in writing and television sometimes can be like an earthquake.”
Black Lightning Season 5 Cast
There won’t be the fifth season of Black Lightning but if the series does return in some form viewers are expected to see the favorite characters including–
- Cress Williams plays Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning
- Nafessa Williams portrays Anissa Pierce
- China Anne McClain depicts Jennifer Pierce
- Christine Adams will act as Lynn Stewart
- Marvin “Krondon” Jones III plays Tobias Whale
- James Remar illustrates Peter Gambi
- Jordan Calloway plays Khalil Payne/Painkiller
- Chantal Thuy plays Grace Choi
Black Lightning Season 5 Plot: What would have happened?
Salim Akil previously revealed to Deadline on what to expect if the story continued. He said: “We’ve always had ideas for a Season 5, or a Season 6. We’ve always had places that we want to go. I always plan like that. I never wait; I’m always thinking about the next season. So, we could have gone on to Season 5. We’ve had so many stories to tell because there’s so many stories out there. Particularly [with] what’s going on in the African-American community now, and the Asian community now, we had stories to tell, and not just political stories. Stories about love, about negotiating relationships, about negotiating yourself and the powers that you have in the world. What do your powers mean to you? Are you so attached to your powers that if you didn’t have your powers, in some way, you’d feel less than? I could go on and on.”
Though, unfortunately, the series ended fans can look forward to possible spin-offs.
“I think that if there was a possibility, the possibility would land in Thunder and Grace and Lightning. I think that that could be a wonderful show. People would be familiar with the characters, be familiar with their backstory. They would be familiar with their wants, their needs and their goals. I think that that trio of women is just very dynamic and talented, so I could see something like that, for sure.”
Spin-offs on Thunder and Grace and Lightning sound great. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
