Let it never be said that the Smiths have a superhero problem. With mother Jada Pinkett coming off a turn as Gotham City mobster Fish Mooney in Fox’s Gotham, and dad Will (having already starred in Hancock) playing Deadshot in Warner Bros.’ upcoming Suicide Squad pic, it appears that son Jaden Smith is about to tackle a comic-book figure all his own. According to actor Tyler James Williams, Smith is playing Static Shock in a WB digital series.
Take this with a grain of salt for now, but Williams was interviewed at MCM Comic Con (via podcast Flicks and the City) when he got on the topic of black representation in superhero cinema. Talking about how “there aren’t many young black comic book superheroes,” Williams stated, “It’s great to see Static Shock is happening with Jaden.”
It’s possible that the actor is just referring to a rumor about Smith taking on the role of Static, but there may be more here. Smith has been rumored for the role for months, and it seems likely that the noted Batman enthusiast would jump at the chance to play a hero.
For those of you less familiar with the comics, Static Shock has the power to harness electricity. An African-American teen named Virgil Ovid Hawkins, he battled villains while balancing the responsibilities of teen life. The character originated in a 1993 Milestone Comics title and would later be incorporated into the DC Universe, becoming a member of the Teen Titans and getting an animated TV series that ran from 2000 to 2004.
The WB take is a digital series, and though it will last at least one season, there’s no information on where or when we’ll see it air. Blue Ribbon Content, one of the studio’s new digital divisions, is heading up development along with producer Reginald Hudlin (Django Unchained).
Tell us, is Jaden Smith a good fit for Static Shock?