Nothing that’s been released by Marvel Studios has suggested a more focused, ambitions vision of a superhero’s world thanMarvel’s Daredevil, which ended up being the most stylistically consistent and thrillingly paced and shot treatment of a Marvel character to date. Even with the more character-centric arcs ofIron Man 3andGuardians of the Galaxyhave felt unmistakably compromises in comparison to the Netflix series, which bodes well for the slate of upcoming Netflix-Marvel collaborations, most prominently that ofLuke Cage. And anticipation for the Luke Cage series got even more serious this week with the announcement of three major characters, includingRosario Dawson’s return as Claire Temple, her recurring role inMarvel’s Daredevil.
Those familiar with the Luke Cage character, who will be played byMike Colter, know that Temple is a major part of Cage’s storyline, and Dawson proved a welcome, involving presence inDaredevil, so there’s not reason to believe her involvement withLuke Cagewill be any different. The casting of Cage villains Shades and Cottonmouth also bolster the already unbearable impatience for the series, withHouse of CardsregularMahershala Aliplaying the latter andTheo RossiofSons of Anarchyin the former role. Both actors have a reputation for being imposing in very silent, unsettling ways in morally complex characters, so they will likely prove to be crucial parts to setting up the stakes of the Luke Cage series. The fact that these announcements follow the casting ofAlfre Woodardin yet another villainous role, that of Minetta, shows of the unique, diverse casting decisions that are going intoLuke Cageand the upcomingA.K.A. Jessica Jones, but it began with the wise casting that helped anchor Marvel’s Daredevil.
Speaking of which, the wind-up toDaredevilSeason 2 has been getting quite serious with the recent casting ofJon Bernthalas the Punisher, and the formerWalking Deadmainstay teased Frank Castle’s heavy artillery collection via Twitter earlier this week. It may sound silly, but all the tidbits that have been flowing in about the Netflix-Marvel shows have made me far more excited than any of the recent talk ofCaptain America: Civil War,Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2, or the nextSpider-Man. 2016 can’t come soon enough!
Here’s the image Bernthal posted to Twitter:
