Marvel and Netflix have cast “The Good Wife” star Mike Colter as comic book hero Luke Cage, Marvel announced Monday. Colter will make his debut in “Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones” in 2015, before going on to headline his own Netflix series.
During the course of an investigation in New York City, private investigator Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) encounters the enigmatic Luke Cage — a man whose past has secrets that will dramatically alter Jessica in ways she could never have imagined.
“Mike embodies the strength, edge and depth of Luke Cage,” said “Jessica Jones” showrunner Melissa Rosenberg. “We’re excited to have him bring this iconic Marvel character to life.”
“Fans have longed to see Luke Cage … and in Mike we’ve found the perfect actor,” said Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s head of television. “Viewers will get to meet Luke Cage in ‘Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones,’ and experience why he is such an important superhero in the Marvel mythos.”
After a tragic ending to her short-lived superhero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her personal life and career as a detective who gets pulled into cases involving people with extraordinary abilities in New York City.
Popular on Variety
“Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones” is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix.
Marvel and Netflix have partnered to adapt four of the publisher’s properties — Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist — into four hourlong, 13-episode series, culminating in a crossover miniseries event titled “The Defenders,” which will bring the “street level” characters together. “Daredevil,” starring Charlie Cox as the titular blind hero, will be the first series to debut in 2015. Marvel’s “Agents of SHIELD” is currently airing its sophomore season on ABC, with “Captain America” spinoff series “Agent Carter,” starring Hayley Atwell, set to bow on ABC on Jan. 6 during “SHIELD’s” midseason hiatus.
