| Release Date: | TBA |
| Cast: | TBA |
| Director: | John Singleton |
| Screen Writer(s): | Ben Ramsey, John Singleton |
| Official Site: | TBA |
| Trailers: | None |
| Status: | Script Stage / Development Limbo |
| Synopsis/Plot: | Luke Cage was once was a gang member, growing up surrounded by crime. At one point, he found himself framed for a crime he did not commit. While in prison, some scientists offered Luke his freedom if he would agree to go through with medical experiments. These experiments not only gave him his freedom, but they also gave him superhuman strength. From there, Luke went into the world to become a mercenary. He became a man who would fight crime, but only for a price. John Singleton confirmed the villain will be Diamondback. |
| News and Rumors: |
January 18, 2006: Out doing "Annapolis" promotions, Tyrese Gibson confirmed he's still very keen to play his hero "Luke Cage" according to MTV News. "I'm probably going to be benching about 415 pounds once I get into that mode. They're just saying that 'Luke Cage was a real big and muscular guy, and we want to make sure that you appear to be that. They have me in mind, along with a few other people. Do I have a better chance at getting it? Probably" says Gibson. Cage's character possesses superhuman strength and resistance to injury, the result of scientific experiments he underwent while in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Something of a cross between Shaft and a member of the Black Panther party, Cage is a "hero for hire" who's been known to invoke the catchphrase "Sweet Christmas!". "The idea of [Cage] being the first-ever black comic-book hero was a lot, as far as a statement. Those are big shoes to fill, man, and I've got to do it and do it right" says Gibson. In order to show Marvel that it'd be making the right decision, the star recently began a strict workout regimen that will hopefully render him superheroic - "I just have to get in shape for it; that's the only thing. They want me to be really massive, and big, and it's going to require a whole other level". Marvel CEO Avi Arad has stated that he expects the film to be brutal enough to earn an R rating, and that longtime nemesis Diamondback will be the film's villain.
July 25, 2005: At the press junket for "Four Brothers" in New York this past weekend, director John Singleton was asked for an update on the possible adaptation of Marvel Comics' Luke Cage. Latino Review heard Tyrese Gibson was going to play the lead role and Singleton's response was "I told him he ain't getting it unless he works out, I was like 'you need to work out' to make sure you get it. Actually my dream team is to do it with Tyrese and Terence Howard will be the villain. Terence to play Diamondback with the snake eyes." So what's taking so long for the movie to move forward? Singleton simply replied, "I don't know what's happening with the studio. I'm not going to do it unless I do it the way I want to do it. -Thanks to 'DarkHorizons' for the news!
May 5, 2004: Latino Review claims that singer-actor Tyrese Gibson is attached to star as Luke Cage for Marvel Studios and Columbia Pictures. IGN FilmForce contacted Mr. Gibson's reps at the William Morris Agency and manager Jerome Martin's office, both of whom declined to comment on the matter. Mr. Martin's office referred us to Marvel "for confirmation." Interestingly enough, Superhero Hype has the lowdown on Marvel Enterprises' Quarter One Conference Call (additional details can be found here). They report that "Luke Cage has a script (Ben Ramsey), director (John Singleton) and actors who they can't announce yet." The film is slated for a 2005 release. Thanks to IGN FilmForce for the story.
March 26, 2004: John Singleton, director of the "Luke Cage" movie, talked to Comics Continuum after the Spider-Man 2 panel last weekend at Wizard World Los Angeles. The man says to expect an announcement regarding the lead actor to be made soon: "I've got a couple of people in mind, but it's premature to say. It's going to be announced in probably a week or so who's going to be Cage...We're working on a new draft and we should be casting really soon." Singleton confirmed the villain will be Diamondback, the original Hero for Hire comics villain who framed him and had him sent to prison - "And I'm trying to get in some of the other characters, like Chemistro, and maybe the Wrecking Crew or some of the obscure Marvel villains. Singleton confirms that Cage will use his trademark "Sweet Christmas" line in the film: "When I read the script, I bust out laughing when he said that, but he can't wear the yellow shirt and he can't have the chains -- I'm not having that. And it's not like the Richard Corben one, either. I'm doing the movie for one reason, to have him break out of Seagate Prison with his bare hands. It's a fun movie. It's hip. It's so cool. Imagine if 50 Cent got super-powers." Production is aiming to get started by late summer for a 2005 release. Thanks to Darkhorizons.com
February 25, 2004: John Singleton will write/direct Sony's upcoming comic book film of Marvel's "LUKE CAGE". Marvel Studios' Kevin Feige says the live-action "LUKE CAGE" movie, based on the popular 'Power Man' comic book character, is in development for a targeted 2005 release. Director John "Shaft" Singleton told SNEAK PEEK's Michael Stevens back in 2001 that he would direct "LUKE CAGE" with Ving Rhames to star. "Singleton is a big fan of 'Luke Cage' and we're a big fan of his," Feige said at the time. Producers of "LUKE CAGE" are Neal Moritz for Original Films and Marvel Studios Avi Arad. "LUKE CAGE" was Marvel's first African-American character to headline his own title, debuting June 1972. Thanks to Superherohype for the news!
June 9, 2003: Rumors now have Vin Diesel up for the role of Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. Diesel has been up for several comic book characters including, Silver Surfer, and Hellboy. Stay tuned to see if he actually does this one.
June 5, 2003: Columbia Pictures has picked up the rights to Marvel Studios' comic book property "Luke Cage," one of the comic industry's most recognizable black superheroes, for Neal Moritz's studio-based Original Films to produce. The studio is moving forward on the project, tapping Ben Ramsey ("The Big Hit") to write the script. Marvel's Avi Arad will produce. "Cage" is about a former gang member who is framed for a crime. In prison, he volunteers for a medical experiment that goes awry, giving him superstrength and bulletproof skin. Using his newfound powers, Cage escapes and becomes a hero for hire. Thanks to Hollywood Reporter.
June 29, 2002: Popular, music video director Hype Williams has signed on to direct the Marvel Comics' action flick Luke Cage. Luke Cage was the first, black Marvel comic superhero back in the '70s, and now the franchise returns for the first time since 1993, only this time it will be on the silver screen in a live-action version.
