From the video game-inspired world of Halo to the comic universe of Marvel, Mike Colter will take on the role of Luke Cage in Marvel’s A.K.A Jessica Jones, scheduled to air on Netflix in 2015.
Colter is certainly no stranger to taking on fantasy driven worlds as he is currently starring in the Xbox Originals series Halo: Nightfall as Jameson Locke.
His newest role, however, will have him starring alongside Krysten Ritter as both actors will attempt to bring the story of Jessica Jones to life.
Jones is the super-powered heroine whose life changed after she was in a car accident that left her doused in chemicals.
Jones went into a coma but when she awoke she eventually realized she had super powers.
As Luke Cage, Colter will be playing Jones’s super strong husband who was once locked up for a crime he didn’t commit.
Cage’s unique experiences create several emotional layers to the character and showrunner Melissa Rosenberg says she has faith that Colter will bring that to the life.
“Mike embodies the strength, edge and depth of Luke Cage,” Rosenberg, who is also the executive producer, said, as reported by Marvel.com. “We’re excited to have him bring this iconic Marvel character to life.”
It’s an important role for Colter as he will essentially be introducing the mainstream media world to Cage.
“Fans have longed to see Luke Cage and in Mike we’ve found the perfect actor,” said Jeph Loeb, Executive Producer and Marvel’s Head of Television, as reported by Marvel.com. “Viewers will get to meet Luke Cage in ‘Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones,’ and experience why he is such an important super hero in the Marvel mythos.”
With comic book-inspired films and shows reaching an all-time peak in popularity, now is as good a time as any to release the Jessica Jones series.
Of course, many blerds might argue that this is about more than just adding another comic book adaptation success to Marvel’s resume.
This is yet another project by the comic giant that will bring diversity to the gang of Marvel super heroes in mainstream media.
It’s a mission Marvel has been pretty adamant about after casting Black actor Michael B. Jordan to take on the role of the traditionally white character Johnny Storm, known best as the Human Torch.
Then there was also the announcement that The Falcon will take over as the new Captain America, marking the first Black Captain America in the comic’s history.
This was a particularly important portrayal of a Black character, according to Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Axel Alonso.
During a recent interview with CBSN Alonso explained that, “the significance of an African-American man dressed in red, white and blue is not lost on the public.”
“It’s caused a lot of interesting debate, but this is the world in which we live,” Alonso added.
Marvel has also made other serious shakeups to boost diversity by introducing a female Thor and a Pakistani-American teen as the new Ms. Marvel.
She is rumored to play Black Mariah, the leader of the crime gang called the Rat Pack. Woodard would join Michael Colter, who will be the title character Luke Cage.
