‘Black Lightning’ is Back to Save Streets from Gang Violence 01.02.2018 Maybe he can't save the world, but he can save his piece of it in The CW's latest trailer for Black Lightning. It's been nine years since Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) last used his superpower to harness and control electricity to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante. He thought his crime-fighting days were over, having settled into his alter ego life as a principal and a dad, after too many nights with his life on the line. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain) grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn (Christine Adams), suffered. But with one daughter hell-bent on justice and the other a star student being recruited by the local gang The One Hundred-led by Tobias Whale-"it's time that the people know, Black Lighting is back," he says in the trailer. The CW also revealed key art, posted below, for the show. The DC-based series is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash), Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane, The Game, Girlfriends), and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, The Flash) serve as executive producers. Black Lightning premieres January 16 at 9 p.m. following the mid-season premiere of The Flash. "Black Lightning" key art. [The CW] RELATED: The CW Introduces New Superhero With 'Black Lightning'.