Alfre Woodard Joins Cast of Marvel's LUKE CAGE on Netflix

Alfre Woodard has officially joined the cast of Marvel's upcoming Netflix series LUKE CAGE, starring Mike Colter, it was announced today.

Woodard will take on the role of "Mariah Dillard, a local Harlem politician--and cousin to recently announced Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes (Mahershala Ali)--who is looking to bring a new era of change to the streets she grew up on. Her personal life and professional career are thrown into turmoil by both Harlem's newest hero Luke Cage as well as her cousin Cottonmouth's nefarious acts."

Led by a series focused on "Daredevil," followed by "Jessica Jones," "Iron Fist" and "Luke Cage," the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, takingNetflixmembers deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell's Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a culminatingMarvel's "The Defenders" mini-series event that reimagines a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters.

"Alfre has an incredible, unique, and intimidating presence on screen that makes her perfect as a leader of the Harlem community," said Executive Producer/Head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb, in a statement. "We couldn't be more excited that an actress as CELEBRATED and talented as Alfre has decided to join us on this adventure."

Cheo Hodari Coker serves as executive producer and showrunner on the series, produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix.

Alfre Woodard is an American film, stage and television actress. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award and Grammy Award, 18 times for the Emmy Award (winning four) and has also won a Golden Globe Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Her television credits include Memphis Beat, Three Rivers, and True Blood. She recently starred in the Academy Award winning film 12 Years a Slave. John Doyle is a Tony Award winner for his 2005 actor-musician staging of Sweeney Todd. He also staged the 2006 actor-musician production of Company on Broadway and the New York premiere of Sondheim's Road Show. Reg Rogers is best known for his roles in Primal Fear and Runaway Bride and for the TV miniseries Attila.He was nominated for Broadway's 1996 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for a revival of Philip Barry's Holiday. Demosthenes Chrysan is an accomplished actor who has appeared extensively on Broadway, Off Broadway and in TV & Film. Most recently he appeared in Golden Boy on Broadway. Dina Shihabi, from NYC, has appeared recently in several hit Indie films including Sam and Amira directed by Sean Mullin and Cigarette Soup directed by Damien Voerg.