Any day now, Netflix and Marvel will be announcing the date of their next series, the Krysten Ritter-led "A.K.A. Jessica Jones," the second installment leading up to "The Defenders" after this spring's "Daredevil," a show that will also introduce the character of Luke Cage to Netflix - and his own show may have just gotten an official villain now.
Over the past few days, there have been numerous rumors about Alfre Woodard, one of the best character actresses in television, joining "Luke Cage" on Netflix, where she'd be playing Marvel villain Black Mariah, a character that has been a nemesis to both Cage and Iron Fist.
According to Deadline, Marvel and Woodard are currently in the final negotiations to cast her in the "Luke Cage" Netflix series, where she'll be portraying a version of Black Mariah, a character that serves as a nemesis to the two abovementioned characters as well as a drug dealer and professional criminal.
AV Club reports that the update to the character on the "Luke Cage" Netflix series is a fairly major one, as back in the '70s, the character was a 400-pound crime lady that resembles the "Daredevil" character Kingpin (portrayed amazingly by Vincent D'Onofrio in the recent series).
It's unknown whether Woodard will be wearing the sinister crime boss in the "Luke Cage" Netflix series in a fat suit, but she's certainly not a bad addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, already filled with numerous critically acclaimed actors, including Iron Man himself Robert Downey Jr.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, apparently Woodard's character will be named Minetta, and she's a powerful woman working in local New York politics that impacts the lead character's life.
As audiences await confirmation, so far it's known that the series' showrunner will be Cheo Hodari Coker, and "Luke Cage" on Netflix is a co production between Marvel Television and the streaming site.
