Marvel's Luke Cage and Iron Fist Release Dates, Cast, News, and Their Role With the Defenders Netflix Series

By Mark Rollins
Luke Cage
Mike Colter as Luke Cage. The Source/Marvel

With Marvel and Netflix introducing viewers to a darker side of the Marvel Universe with Daredevil, plans are underway to introduce three more series: Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron FistJessica Jones will be making her debut in November this year, and Luke Cage will be a recurring character on the show until he gets his own show in 2016.  Then Iron Fist, a partner for Luke Cage, will be showing up in late 2016, presumably.  Eventually, all four will come together for a film or multiple film projects known as The Defenders.  This is what is known as far as the Luke Cage and Iron Fist Release Dates, Cast, and other news. 

As it was revealed last week when more information about Jessica Jones was made public, at least the lead for Luke Cage has been cast with Mike Colter.  Colter will play a crime fighter with super human strength, who was originally given the moniker of Power Man before just calling himself by his true name. 

According to Screen Rant, Luke Cage is scheduled to arrive in 2016, and Marvel announced that Cheo Hodari Coker is going to oversee the project as executive producer/showrunner, as well as write the first two episodes.  The Luke Cage character will most certainly get a good introduction on the Jessica Jones show, and will more than likely start the story of a superhero fighting crime on the streets. 

Showrunner Coker has a lot of crime drama experience with Southland, Ray Donovan, and NCIS: Los Angeles.  It is possible that the edgy Defenders world presented to us with Daredevil is going to get even edgier. 

For those who remember Luke Cage when he was known as Power Man, he had his own title for Marvel comics known as Power Man and Iron Fist.  Iron Fist will also be getting his own show, and a separate article from Screen Rant written a month ago reveals that it could have some problems. 

Of all the Defenders characters that are being introduced in this new Netflix/Marvel Universe, Iron Fist is the one that the least is known about. In the comics, Iron Fist (aka Daniel Rand) is the son of an explorer who discovers the mystical city of K'un-L'un, which appears on Earth every ten years.  Danny is orphaned in the city, but is trained in the ways of a warrior with a mystical dragon that makes his fists like iron. 

Marvel and Netflix aren't really certain what direction to go with a character like this.  The Daredevil series worked because the story was grounded in at least some believable reality of a blind man infected with an unknown chemical being trained as an ultimate action hero.  Bringing Iron Fist into this universe bring a certain element of mysticism that could make or break this show, but it could also go on a more grounded level. 

Whatever direction that Iron Fist will go, it will probably be a hit simply because of the Marvel name and their use of the Avengers formula with The Defenders.  The same goes for Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, who could easily get more story development in the second season of Daredevil. 

    Most Popular
  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

  • Woman pastor analyzes: How Chinese gender culture shapes female ministers’ roles in churches

    In traditional Chinese culture, deeply ingrained notions of gender roles, often expressed as "male strong, female weak," significantly influence the position of women in society and the church. This issue is particularly pertinent for female pastors navigating their roles in ministry. Rev. Dora Wang, Ph.D., from China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), recently addressed this topic in a seminar, sharing her insights on the challenges women face in ministry and proposing strategies to su