Jill Scott
Grammy winner Jill Scott will play funeral parlor owner Lady Eve in the CW midseason series “Black Lightning.” Pictured: Scott poses with her trophy at the 50th annual Grammy awards held at the Staples Center on Feb. 10, 2008 in Los Angeles. Getty Images/ Vince Bucci

Grammy winner Jill Scott has joined the cast of CW’s “Black Lightning.”

According to Deadline, Scott was tapped to play the role of DC villain Lady Eve, a consummate professional who serves as a bridge between Tobias Whale (Marvin “Krondon” Jones III) and a secret group of corrupt leaders in Freeland. Lady Eve presents herself as the owner of a funeral parlor, but quickly becomes an adversary to Jefferson Pierce, aka Black Lightning (Cress Williams).

In the comics, Lady Eve was a member of the Kobra Cult. She joined cult leader Kobra on his secret plan to mind control high officials of the U.S. Army and steal a satellite defense program to blackmail the government. She first met Kobra in Egypt, where she nursed him back to health on her tribe. With the promise of a better life, Eve was convinced to travel with Kobra to America, where they set their plan in motion. They, however, were eventually stopped by Batman and the Outsiders. Created by Mike W. Barr and Alan Davis, Lady Eve first appeared in 1985’s “Batman and the Outsiders” #24.

“Jill is an amazing artist who can embody any character and give them an authentic voice that is both nuanced and richly complex,” said executive producer Salim Akil in a statement to Entertainment Weekly, announcing Scott’s casting. “I am excited to see her in the role of Lady Eve.”

Scott made her TV acting debut on the UPN sitcom “Girlfriends” in 2004. Four years later, she landed a series regular role on the HBO series “The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency,” and went on to join the voice cast of BET’s “Black Panther” in 2010. The “Getting’ the Way” hitmaker recently guest starred on BET’s “Being Mary Jane.”

News of Scott’s casting comes a week after it was announced that Kyanna Simone Simpson has also joined the series in the recurring role of Kiesha, the partner-in-crime and best friend of Jefferson’s younger daughter Jennifer Pierce (China Anne McClain). The daughter of Inspector Henderson (Damon Gupton), Kiesha will encourage Jennifer to challenge her image as a perfect daughter.

“Black Lightning” will premiere midseason on The CW.

RELATED STORIES
Egypt