WARNING: This article features MAJOR SPOILERS from the series finale of Black Lightning.

As Black Lightning season 5 isn’t happening on The CW, what does the future look like for the Freeland characters in the Arrowverse? 2020 was a big game-changer for the Arrowverse properties after Crisis on Infinite Earths and Arrow‘s conclusion. In September 2020, the network revealed that Supergirl would end after its sixth and final season. But in a shocking turn of events during November 2020, The CW proceeded with announcing that Black Lightning season 4 would be the show’s last installment too. Despite having just added Black Lightning to the same universe as the other Arrowverse shows, The CW was bringing the Freeland-centric drama to an end.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

With Black Lightning season 4 already filming at that point, it was a shock to not just fans, but also the creative team and cast. Nevertheless, Black Lightning season 4 came with a final war against Tobias Whale, as the series finale saw Jefferson Pierce take on his arch-nemesis once and for all. Despite Black Lightning season 5 not being on the cards, a series finale isn’t always the end when you exist in a shared universe like the Arrowverse.

As long as the other shows are still running, characters from finished Arrowverse dramas can always swing by for a guest spot or recurring arc. Despite no Black Lightning season 5, what could the Arrowverse do with these characters outside of their own show? Here’s what to know about Black Lightning‘s future.

Black Lightning Season 5 Isn’t Happening, But Can Jefferson Return?

Black Lightning’s series finale saw Jefferson officially retire from the superhero gig, at least as Freeland’s protector. The final scene has Jefferson pass the torch to Thunder, Lightning, and Grace, while announcing he and Lynn Stewart were getting re-married. Even though Black Lightning season 5 isn’t happening next year, that doesn’t mean Cress Williams couldn’t suit up somewhere else. In fact, it seems like fans may not have to wait for long to see Jefferson back in the Arrowverse. In a post-mortem with EW, the actor revealed he had the final scene “tweaked” a bit, specifically because another show had already contacted him: The Flash.

According to Williams, he’s been invited to potentially guest for a few episodes in The Flash season 8. Originally, the Black Lightning finale script had Jefferson retire completely, but due to the potential Flash gig, Williams had it altered to leave it more open-ended. To be clear, Williams said they were just in talking phases, but it definitely seems The Flash creative team has some story ideas for Jefferson so fans could potentially see Black Lightning reunite with Barry Allen after Crisis on Infinite Earths set up their dynamic. Perhaps this is something big they could or might announce at DC FanDome in October, once they finalize everything for The Flash season 8.

Painkiller Spinoff & Other Future Possibilities

Despite Black Lightning season 5 not being greenlit, there was almost a spinoff through Khalil Payne in Painkiller. After a planted backdoor pilot, The CW officially announced in May 2021 that Painkiller would not go forward. Had the spinoff been picked up, it would have followed Khalil’s new life in Akashic Valley with his own team and adventures as the Arrowverse’s first anti-hero. While Painkiller got scrapped, Black Lightning‘s final episode set up the perfect spinoff through Thunder, Lightning, and Grace, essentially as DC’s Outsiders. Even Black Lightning showrunner/creator Salim Akil have spoken, via Deadline Hollywood, about seeing the potential of the three heroines leading their own series.

However, for the time being, it doesn’t appear The CW is developing any Black Lightning spinoffs. Although just like Williams’ Jefferson might show up in The Flash season 8, the heroines could easily make guest appearances across any of the ongoing and future Arrowverse dramas. But since Painkiller didn’t go, it might be some time before The CW considers putting any new Black Lightning spinoff ideas into development. Despite Black Lightning season 5 not becoming a reality, it doesn’t stop any of the other Arrowverse shows from having the Freeland characters on as guest players next season and beyond.

Why Stranger Things Uses A Journey Song In Season 4’s Trailer

About The Author


Andy Behbakht
(1033 Articles Published)

See also  Unsolved Mysteries Season 3 Coming To Netflix in 2022

Andy is a senior writer at Screen Rant as he has covered the world of entertainment journalism since 2010, including superhero/comic book media. In addition to his work as a reporter, Andy co-hosts The Flash Podcast while running and producing the entire DC TV Podcasts network. He is also the founder/editor-in-chief of The Marvel Report since Fall 2015. Andy has previously written for sites such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It’s Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more.

More From Andy Behbakht