Marvel, MJ Kim/Getty Images for SamsungHe's squared off against Frank Underwood and President Snow, now it's time for Mahershala Ali to go toe-to-toe with a Marvel superhero: Luke Cage. E! News has learned Ali, who is known for his work in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 and Netflix's House of Cards is staying in the Netflix family with Marvel's Luke Cage, the upcoming superhero show starring Mike Colter.
Ali will play the villain Cottonmouth, also known as Cornell Stokes. Cottonmouth is a Harlem nightclub owner who will be an unexpected foe for Luke Cage (The Good Wife's Colter), when his criminal activities threaten Luke Cage's world.
"Mahershala is an actor of extraordinary range and gravitas. As Cottonmouth he will really let loose," Jeph Loeb, executive producer and head of Marvel Television, said in a statement. "Luke Cage won't know what hit him."
Marvel's Luke Cage will premiere in 2016 on Netflix.
Colter will first appear as the title hero in Marvel's Jessica Jones opposite Krysten Ritter.
According to Deadline, the cast of Luke Cage also includes Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Sons of Anarchy's Theo Rossi as Shades aka Alvarez and Alfre Woodard as Black Mariah. The site also reports Rosario Dawson will appear as her Daredevil character Claire Temple. Dawson is expected to appear across Marvel's Netflix shows as her nurse character.
Jessica Jones is the next Marvel series on tap for Netflix. Breaking Bad and Don't Trust the B star Ritter plays the title character opposite Rachael Taylor, Doctor Who's David Tennant and Carrie-Anne Moss. No premiere date has been set, but it will likely bow in late 2015.