Marvel Announces Four New ‘Luke Cage’ Cast Members

Marvel recently confirmed the addition of four more talented actors to the Luke Cage cast.

The series, heading to Netflix in 2016, stars Mike Colter as the titular character, who received superhuman strength during experiments he participated in while serving time behind bars. Marvel’s has announced that joining him in the Netflix’s third superhero series will be Simone Missick (Ray Donovan), Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy, Bad Hurt),Frank Whaley (Ray Donovan, Pulp Fiction) and Daredevil star Rosario Dawson.

Missick, pictured in the top left of the featured photo, has joined the cast as popular character Misty Knight, described as “a Harlem police detective who is determined to learn the truth about Luke Cage.” Of her casting Executive Producer/Marvel’s Head of TV Jeph Loeb said, “We know fans have waited years to see Misty Knight brought to life, so we had to find the right actress. Simone blew us away with her performance as the strong-willed cop on a mission.”

Theo Rossi, seen in the top right of the featured photo, will play Shades, a ruthless criminal with ties to Cage’s mysterious past. “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 in a statement. “His Shades will be someone you hate to love.”

Frank Whaley (bottom left) has been cast as Rafael Scarfe, the hard-nosed NYPD detective who partners with Misty Knight in their Luke Cage investigation.“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.”

Finally, Rosario Dawson is set to reprise her role as nurse Claire Temple from Marvel’s Daredevil, whose blossoming friendship with Luke Cage will have a major impact on both characters’ lives.

“We are thrilled to have Rosario in another one of our television series,” said Loeb of Dawson’s addition to the cast. “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.”

Previously announced cast members include Mahershala Ali, who joined the cast as Cornell Stokes, aka Cottonmouth, and Alfre Woodard who will play Mariah Dillard, a local Harlem politician and cousin of Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes.

Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are three of four Marvel characters who will each receive their own series on Netflix, the final being Iron Fist.

Photo Credit: Marvel/ Twitter