In an interview with Decider, Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker teased the premise of Heroes For Hire emerging in future seasons of the show. Here he is, saying why the concept behind the organization appeals to him:
Decider: Of all the Marvel superheroes, what is it specifically about Luke Cage that speaks to you?
Coker: It isn’t just that he’s African-American. I think the thing about Luke Cage that I love is the fact that he’s not just jumping into being a hero. He’s a person first. That was the thing that appealed to me about the comic books. He was “the Hero for Hire.” It’s the fact that he’s like, “Look, maybe I should get paid for this?” Not in a bad way. He’s never like malevolent about it. I always thought that was kind of interesting. It made you think, “Like wait a minute: does Spider-Man have health insurance?” It’s the kind of stuff in the real world context, like what would that be like?
Now in my mind — we don’t go into Heroes for Hire in Season One of Luke Cage* — Luke Cage Season One is ultimately about the evolution of a hero. I think what’s appealing about Luke is the fact that he’s just somebody who’s just your normal, average guy. He presents himself that way. He’s not pretentious, but then at the same time, feels a responsibility to kind of push forward. And really, the most appealing thing personally is Mike Colter. I mean, mind you, Mike Colter wasn’t cast when I started working on this. Basically they were trying to find the guy. I got hired and about a month a half [later], they found Mike. Once I saw Mike, I was like, “Good God, this is the best casting since Sean Connery was cast as James Bond.”
He then later elaborated:
Decider: Everyone is talking about the Iron Fist series and how it would tie in with Luke Cage — I know you’re not doing “Heroes for Hire” this season — but if there is a Season Two, is that a storyline you’re hoping to work towards?And to bring Finn Jones into the mix?
Coker: Well, I mean Finn Jones will be in the mix for The Defenders. In terms of Luke Cage, Netflix has to order a second season first. And trust me, I don’t take any of this for granted because I mean there was no more sure thing than Vinyl (ed note: HBO‘s drama was cancelled after one season). We’re not treating it as a one-off, and I’m confident people will dig the show, but, trust me, like Season Two, I’ve got a few ideas. But we really won’t get ready until Netflix sees the viewership, and hopefully the subscriptions that will come from this show, and then they’ll say, “Let’s get into it.”
He also explained some of his approach for the way he wrote Luke Cage, to make him authentically black but also to allow the show to be relatable to a wide audience.
Coker: My whole thing is I didn’t want Luke Cage to be a hero who happened to be black. I mean, he’s black the way that I’m black. You know, I wake up black, I go to sleep black. Some people will say, “Oh, I’m a showrunner first and not a black showrunner.” No, [frick] that. (laughs) Like, I’m me. But that doesn’t mean that my experience is so colored by my race that it limits my ability to tell a compelling story that will appeal to everyone. I wanted a show that could be what I call “inclusively black.” And what I mean by that anybody who watches the show could eavesdrop on what it’s like to be part of the Black experience, and all of its nuance and contradictions — and beauty. But at the same time, not feel excluded by that.
While the show has not yet been renewed, or released, by Netflix as of now, given Marvel's previous successes with their Netflix series give no reason do doubt that trend to continue. You can read more of the interview in the link below at Decider.
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After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.
Luke Cage launches on Netflix on September 30th.
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