Written by Matt Taylor
As Marvel’s dominance over the entertainment industry continues to grow, Netflix announced four additions to its upcoming Luke Cage series, including three new characters and one familiar face.
Simone Missick, best known for her role in Showtime’s Ray Donovan, has landed the coveted role of Misty Knight, a Harlem police detective who wants to find out the truth about the titular hero. Frank Whaley, also of Ray Donovan, will play Misty’s partner, Rafael Scarfe, a tough NYPD detective. Meanwhile, Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy) has joined the cast as the antagonistic Shades, who has ties to Cage’s past. And, reprising her role from Marvel’s Daredevil, Rosario Dawson will play nurse Claire Temple, who will befriend Cage and, if the show is faithful to the comics, eventually serve as his love interest.
Mike Colter (The Good Wife) will star in the upcoming series, about a fugitive with super strength and unbreakable skin living in modern day Harlem who is forced to confront his past. Mahershala Ali will star as Cage’s archenemy, Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes. Cheo Hodari Coker (Ray Donovan) will serve as showrunner in addition to writing the first two episodes.
Luke Cage will serve as Marvel’s third Netflix original series, following Daredevil (due to return for a second season next year) and Jessica Jones (set for release on November 20). Cage will be introduced in Jessica Jones later this year before the start of his own series. An adaptation of Iron Fist is expected to follow.
While no official release date has been set, expect Luke Cage in early 2016.
