Fox returns to Berlanti for Black Lightning

US broadcaster Fox has put another superhero drama from Greg Berlanti into development.

The 21^st Century Fox-owned channel has given a pilot production commitment to Black Lightning, which is based on a DC Comics character of the same name.

Berlanti, who is attached to four CW superhero dramas, is executive producing with Sarah Schechter. Berlanti Productions, Akil Productions and Warner Bros. Television are producing the hour-long scripted effort.

Husband-and-wife team Salim and Mara Brock Akil are writing the script.

The series will see the title character, real name Jefferson Pierce, drawn back into the world of vigilantism years after hanging up his costume when his daughter becomes hell-bent on justice and a star student is recruited by a local gang.

Fox has a Matt Nix-helmed X-Men series in development for next season. With Gotham and Lucifer, which hail from the DC Comics universe, already on air, Black Lightning could therefore potentially bring the number of superhero series on the channel to four.

A Marvel Television adaptation of Hellfire is not expected to go forwards, however.