The union between Marvel and Netflix that has wooed comic book fans with their adaptations of Jessica Jones and Daredevil continues with Luke Cage, one half of the Heroes for Hire. Mike Colter stars as the eponymous hero, and this series places the indestructible Cage in the spotlight after first being introduced in Jessica Jones. Today brings us the first trailer of everyone’s favorite chain-wielding superhero from Harlem in anticipation of Luke Cage‘s debut on Netflix on September 30th.
The few Marvel shows to appear on Netflix to date have established a gritter, darker edge to the Marvel Cinematic Universe than the colorful pop fun of the movies. Luke Cage looks to continue that tradition while also serving as a means to diversify the color of the heroes that occupy the MCU. The trailer for Luke Cage features a few little nods to comic fans, including a moment where Cage seems to be wearing the tiara that he donned for most of his comic history, though it is obviously something that just wouldn’t fly in 2016. It certainly does seem that the show is going to establish a sharp villain for Cage in Mahershala Ali‘s Cornell Stokes.
Of course, all of these Marvel shows are supposed to be leading up to The Defenders, a team-up series of the heroes that have been featured in the Netflix shows. But with Iron Fist on the horizon, what I’d like to see is the eventual Heroes For Hire series, teaming Luke Cage with his longtime partner in the comics, Iron Fist.
It’s premature to look towards the future when the first season of Luke Cage is staring us down. Marvel and Netflix haven’t struck out yet, and we’ll all be eagerly awaiting Luke Cage’s solo debut on September 30th.
The official synopsis for Luke Cage:
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. However, 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.
Marvel’s Luke Cage is the third of four epic live action adventure series (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and the upcoming Marvel’s Iron Fist, all leading up to the unprecedented teaming of the title characters in Marvel’s The Defenders). Marvel’s Luke Cage is executive produced by series showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker (SouthLAnd, Ray Donovan), Charles Murray (Sons of Anarchy) and Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones), who also serves as Marvel’s Head of Television.
The cast also features Rosario Dawson (Marvel’s Daredevil, Sin CIty), Simone Missick (Ray Donovan), Mahershala Ali (House of Cards, Treme), Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy) and Frank Whaley (Ray Donovan, Pulp Fiction) and Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave, True Blood).
All 13 original episodes of Marvel’s Luke Cage premiere exclusively on September 30, 2016 on Netflix.
