The CW has passed on Painkiller, a spinoff of the network's Black Lightning DC comic book TV series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Painkiller was one of two pilots The CW passed on for the 2021-2022 broadcast season, along with the comedy/drama Our Ladies of Brooklyn. The projects will be shopped around by Warner Bros. TV and CBS Studios, respectively, with HBO Max cited as a potential home for Painkiller.
Written and directed by Black Lightning developer/executive producer Salim Akil, Painkiller is centered on cybernetic assassin Khalil Payne/Painkiller (Jordan Calloway), a character who first appeared in Black Lightning Season 1 and has continued to play a role throughout the show's fourth and final season. Season 4, Episode 7, "Painkiller," was designed to serve as the backdoor pilot for the Painkiller spinoff and aired on April 12.
Should the series move forward, Painkiller would follow Khalil as he leaves Freeland City for Akashic Valley in the hope of turning over a new leaf and burying "the darker, devastatingly lethal Painkiller part of his persona." Among those slated to join Calloway in the show's cast are Alexander Hodge as Philky, a bartender who use his technical know-how to help Khalil fight for justice; Sibongile Mlambo as Maya, an "icy and mysterious" character who is not to be trifled with; and James Roch as Cousin Donald, a "larger-than-life, gentle giant who wears a distinct uniform -- head-to-toe leather with matching boots -- a juxtaposition of his military past."
Even without Painkiller, WarnerMedia already has a number of DC projects in the pipeline for HBO Max, including the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader and My Adventures with Superman. On the live-action side, the company is working on a Green Lantern Corps show that will span decades and feature "a multitude of other Lanterns — from comic book favorites to never-before-seen heroes." The series is being produced by Greg Berlanti, the co-creator of The CW's Arrowverse and an executive producer on Black Lightning.
Black Lightning stars Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning, Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce/Thunder, Christine Adams as Lynn Stewart, Laura Kariuki as Jennifer Pierce, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III as Tobias Whale and James Remar as Peter Gambi. The Season 4 finale will air May 24 on The CW.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter