On the heels of Vixen, CW Seed is introducing another superhero series with an eye toward joining the CW’s DC Universe. The animated Freedom Fighters: The Ray — which comes from the uber-producer behind the CW’s DC Universe, Greg Berlanti, and one of his top lieutenants, Marc Guggenheim — will introduce the first gay superhero to lead a show. The series will premiere on the digital platform in 2017. Like with Vixen, the idea is to have the character cross over in a live-action form to the CW’s Flash-Arrow universe. The plan is to have the actor who voices the lead play the character on the CW series, the network’s president Mark Pedowitz said Thursday at TCA.
Raymond “Ray” Terrill was a reporter who discovered a group of government scientists working on a secret project to turn light into a weapon of mass destruction. But before he could report on his findings, the project head exposed Ray to a “genetic light bomb.” The bomb failed to kill him and instead gifted Ray with light-based powers. With these abilities, Ray realized he could go beyond reporting on injustice – he could take action to help stop it. Calling himself The Ray, he was recruited by Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters to fight violence and oppression wherever it exists.
In DC’s Multiversity series, writer Grant Morrison updated the Freedom Fighters to better reflect American demographics. CW Seed’s series is inspired by Morrison’s new take on the character.
Freedom Fighters: The Ray is from Berlanti Productions in association with Blue Ribbon Content, with executive producers Berlanti (Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow) and Guggenheim (Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow).