The CW’s latest show in the Arrowverse has found its villain for Black Lightning. Rapper Krondon, whose real name is Marvin Jones III, has been cast as the villainous Tobias Whale in the series.
Whale is an African-American who suffers from albinism and is the leader of the street gang, The 100, Freeland’s most powerful gang. Tobias was formerly a politician, rising up the ranks of local government through corrupt and illegal means until he was brought down by Alvin Pierce, Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning’s father. In retaliation, Tobias murdered Alvin and went into exile, secretly rebuilding his empire and becoming the leader of the feared gang. When Jefferson becomes Black Lightning once again, it forces Whale to return as well in a desire for revenge against Black Lightning.
“I was excited about Krondon when I saw his audition. He’s going to make a great Tobias,” executive producer Salim Akil said. “His authentic street sensibility along with an insightful intelligence is perfect for the Tobias character arc. Not to mention his regal physical bearing will be additive to making our show exciting and different.”
Cress Williams stars as Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning, in the series, alongside Nafessa Williams and China Anne McClain as his daughters, Anissa and Jennifer. Additional co-stars include Christine Adams, Damon Gupton, and James Remar.
Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. 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. Almost a decade later, Pierce’s crime-fighting days are long behind him…or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns — to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community.
Black Lightning is slated to premiere in early 2018.
Originally published August 10, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
