There has been a small storm of casting news for Marvel/Netflix’s Luke Cage of late, which is hardly surprising since the show is kicking off its shoot. But while the most recent word has been less official, Marvel has now announced that Mahershala Ali will present a real problem for our hero as Cottonmouth.
To give him his full name, Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes will be a Harlem nightclub owner in the series, a man whose criminal activities don’t sit well with Cage’s hero-for-hire attitude.
“Mahershala is an actor of extraordinary range and gravitas. As Cottonmouth he will really let loose,” says Marvel Television boss Jeph Loeb. “Luke Cage won’t know what hit him.” Cage, of course, is played by Mike Colter, and he’ll pop up in Jessica Jones before seeing his own story told in his show, set to hit Netflix next year.
Already announced – though not directly by Marvel, we should add – are Alfre Woodard, Theo Rossi and Simone Missick. Ali has been seen in the likes of** The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1** and Netflix’s own House Of Cards. He’ll be back on Mockingjay duty for Part 2, out on November 20, and has a role in The Free State Of Jones.