Michael B. Jordan, who’s played characters with such wonderful comic-book names as Johnny Storm, Eric Killmonger, and Adonis Johnson (that last one isn’t a comic-book movie, but still), is bringing his superheroic expertise to Netflix. Jordan has signed on as executive producer and co-star of a new series for the streaming service called Raising Dion, about a single mother who discovers that her young son has a number of constantly shifting superpowers.
Jordan will appear in a supporting role as Mark, the young superhero’s recently deceased father. The rest of the main cast, which includes widowed mom Nicole Reese, Mark’s best friend Pat, and young Dion himself, has yet to be cast. The series will be based on the comic book and short film of the same title from commercial director Dennis Liu, who’s also set to direct the first episode. In a press release about the series, Liu says, “I started this project many years ago because I wanted to see more diverse representation on film and television … More than ever, we need more stories told from different points of view and my hope with Raising Dion is to create a cinematic experience for all families that will lift your spirits and make you laugh and cry.”
You can watch Liu’s short film below. Netflix has ordered Raising Dion straight to series for a 10-episode first season; a release date has yet to be set.