Though we've been getting casting tidbits for the upcoming Netflix series Marvel's Luke Cage for some time now, this is the first time that we've gotten specific information about the characters who will populate Luke Cage's (Mike Colter) world. There will be some crossover into the other Marvel properties on Netflix (like Rosario Dawson's Claire from Daredevil), but there will also be a lot of new faces in the upcoming series as well. And if Luke Cage is half as visually stunning and viscerally crafted as Daredevil, we're in for a great next few years of this Marvel-Netflix collaboration.
Here are the casting updates and character info recently posted to Marvel.com:
Simone Missick (Ray Donovan)
Character: Misty Knight, a Harlem police detective who is determined to learn the truth about Luke Cage.
Quote: “We know fans have waited years to see Misty Knight brought to life, so we had to find the right actress,” said Executive Producer/Marvel's Head of TV Jeph Loeb. “Simone blew us away with her performance as the strong-willed cop on a mission.”
Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy)
Character: Shades, a ruthless criminal with ties to Cage’s mysterious past.
Quote: "Theo Rossi is a swiss army knife--no matter what you bring to him, he has a tool for it--and he’s playfully unpredictable,” said series Executive Producer and Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker. “His Shades will be someone you hate to love.”
Frank Whaley (Ray Donovan)
Character: Rafael Scarfe, a hard-nosed NYPD detective who partners with Misty Knight in their Luke Cage investigation.
Quote: “Frank Whaley has a wiry intensity that he’s imbued in Det. Rafael Scarfe,” said Coker. “He’s a great counterpart to Misty, and a wonderful actor.”
Rosario Dawson (Daredevil)
Character: Claire Temple. Her blossoming friendship with Luke Cage will have a major impact on both characters’ lives.
Quote: “We are thrilled to have Rosario in another one of our television series,” said Loeb. “Her performance as Claire Temple in Marvel’s Daredevil was astonishing and we can’t wait to see her shine in Marvel’s Luke Cage.”
Here's the synopsis for Luke Cage, which is set to premiere on Netflix in 2016:
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.
