Netflix’s Marvel machine is showing no sign of slowing down. With a second season of Daredevil confirmed and Jessica Jones not too far away, we’re now starting to get casting news from follow-up series Luke Cage, with the news that Alfre WooDard is on board for a role, according to Deadline.
The character she is officially playing is known in the script as Minetta, a powerful local politician, but according to the story, this is actually a version of the Marvel comic-book villain known as Black Mariah, a crime lord and drugs boss who has previously tangled with both Cage and fellow hero (and future Netflix series recipient) Iron Fist.
Recognisable from a number of genre outings (such as Star Trek: First Contact, True Blood and K-Pax), Woodard definitely seems like a solid choice for the role. Considering that Cage’s comic-book back story isn’t exactly rich with memorable villains, it’s handy for the show that it has such a strong character actress involved.
She joins Cage actor Mike Colter in the main cast, which has Cheo Hodari Coker (Southland, Almost Human) attached as showrunner.
Luke Cage will air on Netflix in 2016. For more about the comics that inspired the series, pick up the 100 All-Time Greatest Comics: Revised Edition bookazine now.
