As part of a broader story about diversity in TV hiring, Deadline reported today that The CW's Black Lightning pilot will be directed by writer and executive producer Salim Akil.

The project, which was developed by The Flash and Supergirl executive producer Greg Berlanti for FOX, moved to The CW after FOX passed on the pilot -- the same series of moves made by the Archie Comics adaptation Riverdale around this time last year.

The pilot will be co-produced by Mara Brock Akil, Sarah Schechter, and Salim Akil, based on the character created by Tony Isabella and Trevor Von Eeden. Akil is set to write and direct. Black Lightning, if a series order is given, would be Berlanti’s fifth DC-based superhero series on the network and would be the first to star a black superhero as the title star.