Tyler Perry to helm DC Comics’ Static TV Series
Director, Writer, Actor, Drag Queen, saved, sanctified and filled with the holy ghost Tyler Perry has recently been announced as the lead writer for DC’s newest television series, Static. The multidisciplined Perry has had a hurricane of success after success with his partnership with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network. Perry hopes for the network to pick up the series once production on the pilot has been finished. He spoke to Fanbros.com briefly on his vision for the show, and it’s title character.
DC approached me in an attempt to bring a new audience to their material. I looked high and low through their archives at all of the powerful people of color they have at their disposal. It’s a shame really, I get to bring Virgil Hawkins to life but there are so many more I’d love to get the chance at writing.
Perry is not only serving as writer on the Static Shock production, he’s juggling triple duties as director, lead writer and actor. An act Perry has grown accustomed to as he grows his entertainment empire. His classic films like Madea’s Family Reunion, and Diary of a Mad Black Woman have gone on to break box office records for black people in the entertainment industry. Perry hopes to replicate that success with Static.
Yes, I’ll be playing Jefferson Pierce. He’s got a mentor role to Virgil. He’s a man who’s lost the faith in himself and filled that void with his faith in the lord. And I want to show that it’s possible to use that faith in the lord to find yourself. HE is the light, or lightning in this case, in the darkness of Jefferson’s life.
Rumor has it that Perry has written for Jefferson Pierce, also known as DC Comic’s Black Lightning, as a reverend and community leader who has retired from the superhero lifestyle. No word yet on who Perry is eyeing to play Static himself, but Perry isn’t worried.
I could cast an unknown or I could cast someone with an Academy Award. The actor that gets this role needs to be able to make Virgil a character that anyone can identify with. He’s just a kid going through a massive change in his life and adapting to it. That’s something we can all understand.
