The television branch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is already underway with Daredevil starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. Joining the fray sometime soon will also be Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage. In an exclusive interview with IGN, Jamie Foxx – who recently starred as super fan-turned-super villain Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – admits that he was once in talks to play Luke Cage.
“I was actually approached for Luke Cage, back in the day, but you know… it didn’t work out,” states Foxx.
Foxx is of course referring to the long abandoned Colombia Pictures version of Cage that was due to be directed by John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood, Abduction) The deal fell through when all parties couldn’t agree which direction to take the character. Back in 2007 Singleton said:
“We have a great script. We have a couple of great scripts. It’s just a matter of some people have not got it yet. I’m not saying every studio on the board, some people haven’t got it that multi-ethnic sells…I’ve been wanting to do the movie since I was a kid and I’m not going to do it unless it’s right.”
Now the rights have reverted back to Marvel Studios and they plan to produce a television show exclusively for Netflix, although no cast have been confirmed as yet. Idris Elba (Pacific Rim) and Terry Crews (The Expendables 3) have both been linked with the role recently.
During the dicussion, Foxx also took the opportunity to praise the comic-book genre: “I’ve always been a superhero fan…and I think it comes from growing up and watching a lot of T.V. and that was sorta my world…Cinema is in that world where they really take it seriously when it comes to superheroes and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Do you reckon Jamie Foxx would have made a good Luke Cage? If not, who else would you like to see taking on the role?
Originally published August 21, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
