Marvel will introduce its third street hero Luke Cage in the upcoming "A.K.A. Jessica Jones," but once he's done helping Jones, Cage will face his own set of enemies in his solo Netflix series.
Cage (played by Mike Colter) will face off against Willis Stryker a.k.a. Diamondback as the main villain in the third of four joint Marvel-Netflix shows planned, according to Heroic Hollywood. The two men were childhood friends but Diamondback framed Cage in a drug deal that sent the hero to prison.
The show may also feature Reva Connors as Cage's love interest. She grew up as friends of Cage and Stryker then came between them, causing Diamondback to set up the frame job.
"Luke Cage" is finalizing a deal with Alfre Woodard to play another possible villain in the series. Her character is listed as Minetta, a powerful woman in local politics, but she could be Black Mariah, a professional criminal and drug dealer.
An early breakdown obtained by Heroic Hollywood describes Cage as a former gang member who is frame for a crime.
"In prison, he volunteers for a medical experiment that goes awry, giving him super strength and bulletproof skin. Using his newfound powers, Cage escapes and becomes a hero for hire. His archenemy is Willy Stryker, a former childhood friend from Harlem. The two committed petty crimes together and both fell for the same woman, Reva Connors, which led to their eventual falling out. It was Stryker who framed Cage for a drug deal that sent him to prison," the description read.
"Luke Cage" will begin production next month in New York City and premiere its first 13-episode season in 2016.
