Actress Alfre Woodard Joins cast of Marvel's Luke Cage
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- September 16, 2015
- Mark Hodge
Oscar nominated actress Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave) has officially joined the cast of Marvel and Netflix's Luke Cage.
The Emmy winning star will play the role of Mariah Dillard, a charismatic and powerful Harlem politician who is threatened by the emergence of the titular hero.
The show will center on Luke Cage, played by Mike Colter, who becomes a superhero for hire after gaining incredible strength thanks to a sabotaged prison experiment.
Along with Daredevil and Jessica Jones, Luke Cage is another product of Netflix and Marvel's small screen partnership.
Head of Marvel television Jeph Loeb spoke about Woodard's casting and what her considerable talents can bring to the role.
He said: “Alfre has an incredible, unique, and intimidating presence on screen that makes her perfect as a leader of the Harlem community. We couldn’t be more excited that an actress as celebrated and talented as Alfre has decided to join us on this adventure.”
Another cast member who has been officially announced is Mahershala Ali (House of Cards), who will play Dillard's cousin, Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes.
Colter's Cage will initially be featured in Jessica Jones, which is also set in New York and will air in November, before spinning off into his own series.
Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker (Ray Donovan) will write the first two episodes of the debut season and will serve as executive producer.
Check out behind-the-scenes images from Luke Cage here.
The first season of Luke Cage will begin on Netflix sometimes in 2016 – here is a new official synopsis:
After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage (Mike Colter) becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city–forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.
Source: Marvel
Image: State of Affairs
