Luke Cage Showrunner Was Influenced by The Wire
Marvel’s newest series Luke Cage premieres in just 28 days. When it debuts it will introduce audiences to the colorful and turbulent neighborhood of Harlem — home to the unbreakable Luke Cage. Series showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker recently spoke with Vulture and shared what three television shows and films influenced his take on the show.
Coker said that his pitch to Marvel for the adaptation of Luke Cage was, “I want the show to be Belly meets City of God, as written by the staff of The Wire.” Belly was helmed by famed music video director Hype Williams. The film starred rappers Nas and DMX and showcased the noir-themed world of gangster life in New York City. City of God also influenced Coker because it took an intimate look at how music, drugs and violence all affected an interconnected community in Brazil. According to Coker it’s one of his favorite films of all time.
Coker also said that, “The Wire’s pretty much the only show I watch, episodes one through sixty, once a year.” The Wire ran for five seasons on HBO in the ’90s. It featured an all-star cast of Idris Elba, Dominic West, and Wendell Pierce. Each season explored a different department of a city — the police force, the import/export industry, the school system, the government, and the newspaper. It provided a unique social commentary that people still talk about today.
Each of these cinematic works showcased the subcultures of three vastly different cities: Belly took place in New York, City of God showcased life in Rio, and The Wire explored different parts of Chicago. Luke Cage will explore the world of Harlem and will be a fascinating contrast to Daredevil’s world Hell’s Kitchen.
Luke Cage will premiere exclusively on Netflix on September 30th.