Marvel’s Luke Cage has added four major character to its already impressive cast. Joining Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and his nemesis Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes (Mahershala Ali) are Misty Knight, Shades, Rafael Scarfe, and Claire Temple.
In the comic books, Misty Knight is a former New York City detective, who was forced to resign after she lost her arm disabling a bomb. Despite a Stark-sponsored bionic arm, she was no longer fit to be on active duty and choose to resign. In the show, her character will be a Harlem detective “determined to learn the truth about Luke Cage”. She’ll be played by Simone Missick, known for her prior role in Ray Donovan. Executive Producer and Marvel’s Head of TV Jeph Loeb said that Missick “blew [them] away with her performance as the strong-willed cop on a mission.”
Theo Rossi, known for his work in Sons of Anarchy, will play Shades, a criminal who will “be someone you love to hate”. Marvel’s comic book version imagines Shades as a criminal Cage encountered while in prison.
Rafael Scarfe will be played by Frank Whaley, known for Ray Donovan and Pulp Fiction. Whaley “imbued” Scarfe with a “wiry intensity” according to Executive Producer and Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker. In the comics, Scarfe is Misty Knight’s first partner on the job. Marvel’s Luke Cage stays true to this aspect of the character, partnering him up with Misty Knight while they investigate Luke Cage.
Rosario Dawson will reprise her role as nurse Claire Temple. Loeb said that “her performance as Claire Temple in Marvel’s Daredevil was astonishing and we can’t wait to see her shine”. Temple will develop a friendship with Cage that will have a “major impact” on their lives.
Mike Colter stars as Luke Cage, the victim of an experiment gone wrong leaving him with super strength and unbreakable skin. Marvel’s Luke Cage will be available on Netflix in 2016.
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