Not much is known about Luke Cage aside from the fact lead actor Mike Colter assures us going to be utterly badass. Apparently Executive Producer Cheo Hodari Coker agrees because he just compared the series to HBO’s hit early-2000’s show, The Wire (which may be the definition of badass). If that’s not enough to get you hype, A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad is handling the music. Coker gave a few more details:
“It’s very sophisticated. I mean, it’s got a ’90s hip-hop vibe, but it’s really forward-thinking. We have Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad doing the scoring for us. We have a lot of different musical appearances, but at the same time, we’ve got the Marvel action. We’ve got drama. I would like this to be, I mean, I know this is heavy but, The Wire of Marvel television, because we really deal with a lot of different issues,” Coker said via ComicBookResources .
Coker’s description of the series is particularly exciting seeing Luke Cage is the first real black superhero show. A large majority of Luke Cage’s supporting cast members are also black, so it's clear Netflix isn’t half assing their attempt to bring this street-level superhero to life. Luke Cage was born and raised in Harlem, which is where the series will take place. Mike Colter describes Luke Cage as a fugitive tale, exploring how a man goes from being a wrongfully convicted felon to a superhero. The actor goes on to explains why the series is set in modern day Harlem instead of venturing to other neighborhoods like Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen.
“I don’t know if there are a lot of people who have been to Harlem, who have actually stepped foot in New York City and gone uptown to 125th street and seen what the Apollo Theatre is like and the Cotton Club. We’re going to bring that world to them,” Colter said on the red carpet at Captain America: Civil War premiere in Los Angeles.
Luke Cage doesn’t sound like your average live-action DC Comics or Marvel series. Culturally competent superhero show meets The Wire twisted with a 90’s hip hop soundtrack is destined to be a long-awaited dream come true.
Here’s Luke Cage ’s cast so far:
Simone Missick as Misty Knight --a Harlem police detective with a strong sense of justice, who is determined to learn about Cage and is the partner of Rafael Scarfe
Mahershala Ali as Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes --a Harlem nightclub owner who will become an unexpected foe in Luke’s life when his criminal activities threaten Luke’s world.
Alfre Woodward as Mariah Dillard- -a local Harlem politician, and cousin to recently announced Cornell 'Cottonmouth' Stokes, who is looking to bring a new era of change to the streets she grew up on. Her personal life and professional career are thrown into turmoil by both Harlem's newest hero Luke Cage as well as her cousin Cottonmouth's nefarious acts.
Theo Rossi as Shades --a ruthless criminal with ties to Cage’s mysterious past.
Frank Whaley as Rafael Scarfe -- a hard-nosed NYPD detective who partners with Misty Knight in their Luke Cage investigation.
Rosario Dawson as nurse Claire Temple -- Reprising her role as Night Nurse, her blossoming friendship with Luke Cage will have a major impact on both characters’ lives.
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.
Luke Cage premieres September 30th on Netflix.
