It’s that time of year again – the fall/winter shows are wrapping up (or have already ended), and the television networks are gearing up for the spring upfronts. As a result, there is already a lot of chatter about which pilots may be picked up for full seasons – as well as which existing shows are going to be renewed, and which might well get cut. Most won’t be confirmed until next month, of course, although some shows have already received early renewal.
On the superhero front, there are two new series that have been generating a lot of buzz this season: Black Lightning and Gifted. Black Lightning centers on Jefferson Pierce, a retired superhero with electricity-based powers, and was ordered to pilot for The CW. Gifted is the working title for FOX’s latest superhero project, a Marvel drama about a family with mutant children on the run from the Sentinels. Now it sounds like the creators of both pilots are going to have cause for celebration next month.
According to rumors reported by Deadline, both Gifted and Black Lightning are likely to be picked up for full seasons by their respective networks, thanks to early buzz and positive response to what has been shown so far. As well as calling Black Lightning a “hot prospect” for a series order, Gifted is mentioned as possibly getting an “early pickup”.
It’s not too surprising that both of these shows would get series orders, of course. Berlanti’s DC Universe on The CW is hugely successful, and the speculation around this world seems to focus more on what the next show will be, not whether or not there will be one. That said, there was a little doubt about the future of Black Lightning, if only because it was originally scripted for FOX, and The CW picked it up at the last minute. However, the original script was not used, and a shorter presentation has been filmed, presumably showing how this superhero would fit into the existing Arrowverse. With the existing shows (Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow) all already renewed, it’s a good bet that Black Lightning will join the family in the fall of 2017.
Gifted, meanwhile, is a little less of a sure thing, so it’s fantastic to hear that it is already being eyed for a full series order. FOX’s X-Men universe only came to the small screen this year, with the trippy drama Legion, and there is little doubt that the success of that show is going to help Gifted make it to series.
Of course, this is all just rumor at the moment, and nothing on either show has been officially confirmed by FOX or The CW. News on both shows should be announced very soon, however, especially if they are picked up early.
Black Lightning and Gifted do not yet have confirmed release dates.
Next: Marvel’s New X-Men: What You Need to Know
Source: Deadline
