by a Black Superman. In other media Television Animation A character based on Black Lightning named Morris Grant / Soul Power appears in the Static Shock episode "Blast from the Past", voiced by Brock Peters. He is an elderly superhero who acquired his powers following an accident at the Hoover Dam, and operated in Dakota during the 1960s alongside his sidekick Sparky. In the present, he lives in a retirement home in Dakota, but is temporarily called out of retirement to help Static defeat his old enemy, Professor Menace. Black Lightning appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Bumper Robinson. This version is a teenager and leader of the Outsiders. Black Lightning appears in the "Thunder and Lightning" segment of DC Nation Shorts, voiced by Blair Underwood. Black Lightning appears in Young Justice: Invasion, voiced by Khary Payton. This version is initially a member of the Justice League and Static's mentor until he inadvertently kills a young girl that the Light turned into a monstrous metahuman soldier. A guilt-ridden Black Lightning considers retiring from superheroics, but is convinced to join Nightwing's team in dismantling the Light's metahuman trafficking rings before he learns of their association with Batman Inc. and willingness to use the Light's tactics against them. Eventually, Black Lightning helps expose Light member Lex Luthor's role in the trafficking rings and is appointed the new leader of the Justice League on the condition that everyone involved does not sacrifice their principles while fighting the Light. Live-action A self-titled television series based on Black Lightning debuted on The CW on January 16, 2018, with Cress Williams portraying the titular character. The series is developed by Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil, who also executive produce, along with Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, for Akil Productions and Berlanti Productions, alongside Warner Bros. Television. Fox gave the series a "pilot production commitment" in September 2016. In January 2017, Berlanti stated the series, if ordered, would not crossover with his other DC Comics television properties on The CW nor would it exist in their established universe. The following month, Fox passed on the series after deciding it was "not a good fit into its already crowded genre drama space." Shortly thereafter, it was picked up by The CW with a pilot order. The pilot episode was directed by Salim Akil. In May 2017, The CW officially ordered the project