Netflix and Marvel Television have announced that Season 2 of Marvel’s Luke Cage will welcome some new faces. According to Marvel.com, Mustafa Shakir and Gabrielle Dennis are confirmed to appear as series regulars in the upcoming sophomore season.
Luke Cage, a Netflix original series, tells the story of a a former convict that tries to reinvent himself in Harlem, New York City. The catch is that he has unbreakable skin and super strength that he acquired following a deliberately damaged experiment. The character of Luke Cage was first introduced in 2014 on Marvel’s Jessica Jones, which also airs on Netflix. The series was created by Cheo Hodari Coker. The creator is known for his work on Southland, NCIS: Los Angeles, Almost Human, and Ray Donovan.
Shakir, who has previously appeared in The Deuce and The Night Of, has been cast as John McIver. The character is described by Marvel as “a natural leader, brimming with charisma, whose mission is focused on Harlem and vengeance.”
Dennis, who is known for her work on television shows such as Rosewood, Blue Mountain State, The Game, and The Underground, will star as Tilda Johnson. Marvel describes the character as “a brilliant, holistic doctor with a complicated history in Harlem where, as much as she tries to stay far from trouble, it seems to always find her.”
Executive producer Jeph Loeb is excited for the two actors to officially join the cast. “Mustafa’s incredible presence and power ignited us from our first meeting, and Gabrielle brings the charm and smarts to a very complicated role,” he said. “Both will be wonderful additions to our already magnificent cast.”
Hodari Coker, who also works as Luke Cage‘s showrunner and executive producer, said, “I can’t wait for audiences to see the compelling paces we put both Mustafa and Gabrielle through.” He continued, “From the moment you see each of them on screen, I feel they will be powerful additions to the world of Marvel and Harlem’s Luke Cage.”
Shakir and Dennis will be joining many returning cast members from Season 1 including Mike Colter as the titular character, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Theo Rossi as Shades, and Alfre Woodard as Mariah Dillard.
Season 1 of Luke Cage premiered on the streaming service in September 2016. All 13 episodes of the rookie season are currently available to stream. Production for the upcoming season began in June and is scheduled to end in March 2018. Season 2 is expected to debut in 2018 exclusively on Netflix.