Four-time Grammy Award winner Jill Scott is joining the cast of The CW’s new superhero drama “Black Lightning” as a villain, the network announced Thursday.
Scott will be playing Lady Eve, a villain with connections to the K.O.B.R.A. organization and cult. She’s normally seen as the right hand for whoever is leading the cult, who usually goes by the name Kobra. The group has often faced off against the Outsiders, a group that Black Lightning has been a part of in comics and in other TV shows.
In the show, she will act as the bridge between main antagonist Tobias Whale (played by actor and rapper Marvin “Krondon” Jones III) and another group of corrupt leaders. She presents herself as the owner of a funeral parlor in Freeland, where “Black Lightning” takes place, but ultimately becomes one of the titular hero’s adversaries. So it’s unclear at this time if K.O.B.R.A. will play a role in the upcoming series.
“Jill is an amazing artist who can embody any character and give them an authentic voice that is both nuanced and richly complex. I am excited to see her in the role of Lady Eve,” said showrunner and executive producer Salim Akil.
Scott is also a New York Times best-selling author, spoken-word poet and actress, performing on Broadway, in films and on television. She’s released five studio albums. Her debut, “Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1” went double platinum.
“Black Lightning” is the latest DC property to be adapted for a show on the CW network. It follows Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce, a man who used to be a superhero but is now the principal of a charter school, trying to live a normal life. However, when is daughter starts getting into crime fighting, he puts back on the cowl to fight local gang The One Hundred and to save the community.
The series, which has no connection so far to the established Arrowverse — including “Arrow” and “The Flash” — is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Greg Berlanti, Salim Akil, Mara Brock Akil and Sarah Schechter are executive producing.
“Black Lighting” will premiere midseason 2018.