The CW's Black Lightning is in its final season, but fans might still get a chance to see a native son of Freeland in an ongoing story in the spinoff series Painkiller. The spinoff was given a pilot order from The CW, and now fans have been given a first look at the potential new series.
A promo for an upcoming episode highlights Khalil Payne/Painkiller, the cybernetic assassin who has been alternately an enemy and an ally for Black Lightning and his family. In it, Khalil is seen struggling with his bloodthirsty alter-ego while also highlighting his impressive combat skills and unique array of superpowers. Black Lightning showrunner Salim Akil is set to write and direct the backdoor pilot, which will air on Monday, April 12.
Played by Jordan Calloway, Khalil debuted in the show's first season as a track star who tragically becomes paralyzed when he's hit by a stray bullet. Khalil is approached by criminal mastermind Tobias Whale, who promises to give Khalil superpowers in exchange for his service as an enforcer. Khalil becomes Painkiller until he escapes, only to be abducted and brainwashed by the villainous fed Percy Odell. He escapes once more and becomes an ally of Black Lightning, but continues to struggle with his violent past and the bloodthirsty alter-ego it created in his mind.
In February, it was announced that Painkiller was adding three more cast members alongside Calloway: Alexander Hodge as Philky, Sibongile Mlambo as Maya and James Roch as Cousin Donald. The official synopsis of the series reads,
Based on characters created for DC by Tony Isabella with Eddie Newell, "Painkiller" follows Khalil Payne (Calloway), a young man ridden with the guilt of his troubled past from his former life in Freeland City. As a super-enhanced killing machine known as Painkiller, he was both a member of Tobias Whale's gang and a weapon of Agent Odell and the shadowy ASA. After attempting to bury the darker, devastatingly lethal Painkiller part of his persona, Khalil has distanced himself away from everyone he knows and loves in a new city, Akashic Valley, in order to find peace. But peace never comes easy for men with pasts like his. As his violent, destructive history crashes his idyllic new beginning, Khalil is thrust back into action with a new mission – bring justice where he once gave out punishment – but to do that, he will first have to deal with and harness his darker side.
Black Lightning stars Cress Williams, Laura Kariuki, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III, Jordan Calloway, Chantal Thuy, and James Remar. New episodes air Monday nights on The CW.
Source: YouTube
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