"Black Lightning" Sets Painkiller-centric Backdoor pilot for Season 4
by Chancellor Agard
November 12, 2020


The world of "Black Lightning" is expanding.

EW has learned that The CW superhero drama's fourth season will feature a backdoor pilot for a potential series centered on Jordan Calloway's Painkiller, a.k.a. Khalil Payne.

The planned pilot — which will take Khalil out of Freeland — will air the seventh episode of season 4.




Executive produced by "Black Lightning" creator Salil Akil, the prospective Painkiller series follows a guilt-ridden Khalil as he leaves everyone he loves behind in Freeland and moves to Akashic Valley in order to find peace.

Unfortunately, "peace never comes easy for men with pasts like Khalil Payne and Painkiller," according to the official logline. "As his violent, destructive history crashes his idyllic new beginning, Khalil is thrusted 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, Painkiller."

https://ew.com/tv/black-lightning-season-4-painkiller-backdoor-pilot/

"Painkiller" Adds Sibongile Mlambo, Alexander Hodge and James Roch
by Dino-Ray Ramos
Feb. 16, 2021


The cast for The CW’s "Painkiller" is coming together as the "Black Lightning" spin-off has added Sibongile Mlambo, Alexander Hodge and James Roch.

https://deadline.com/2021/02/painkiller-black-lightning-sibongile-mlambo-alexander-hodge-jame-roch-1234694682/

"Painkiller" Not Going Forward - The CW Pilots Update
by Nellie Andreeva
May 24, 2021


The CW has opted not to proceed with the "Black Lightning" spin-off "Painkiller".

https://deadline.com/2021/05/powerpuff-tom-swift-status-cw-pilot-our-ladies-of-brooklyn-painkiller-picked-up-dead-1234762992/