Sweet Christmas.
Netflix has released the main trailer for their upcoming series Luke Cage starring Mike Colter, based on the Marvel Comics superhero. The 13-episode series explores Cage's world following a sabotaged experiment that gives him super strength and unbreakable skin. He becomes a fugitive attempting to rebuild his life in Harlem, and must soon confront his past and fight a battle for the heart of his city.
The two-minute, 45-second trailer opens with an SUV about to deliverately run over Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson, reprising her role from Daredevil and Jessica Jones) and someone else, when Luke steps in front of them and smashes the SUV's entire front end with just his body.
"I'm still not sure what I am," Luke remarks to Pop (Frankie Faison) from Pop's Barber Shop. "I'm just livin' my life, day to day."
"You should be out there helping people," Pop tells him.
"You think I asked for any of this?" replies Luke.
We get a quick glimpse of the Seagate Prison experiment that gives Luke his superpowers. "I was put in some tank like an exotic fish," Luke continues as we see him emerge from the smoke wearing his traditional metal headband and bracelets from the comics. "Came out with...abilities. I just want to be left the hell alone."
Pop responds, "But that would be a waste."
As we hear the sounds of "Walk On" by Isaac Hayes, we see Alfre Woodard as Mariah Dillard, a local politician looking to bring change to Harlem being interviewed on television.
"Too much happens in the shadows," Claire remarks to Luke. "People fear what they can't see."
We're then introduced to Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes (Mahershala Ali), the owner of the Harlem's Paradise nightclub who deals in illegal operations. "This place is our reputation," begins Cottonmouth, "our mix, our blood."
We see Cottonmouth pummeling someone into a bloody pulp before he tells his men "Hit every business and squeeze 'em hard." A hail of bullets comes through the window of Pop's Barber Shop as Luke tries to protect someone with his invulnerable body.
"Everybody wants to be the king," remarks Cottonmouth as the painting behind him in his office appears to place a crown on his head.
"Sometimes," Claire tells Luke, "if you want justice, you have to get it yourself."
As Cottonmouth's gang hits a local Chinese restaurant Genghis Connie's, Luke confronts them saying "I don't like your tone" and swiftly takes out the hoods. Luke tells Connie reassuringly, "You have my word, ma'am. I've got you."
We see glimpses of Luke fighting various bad guys before Misty Knight (Simone Missick) warns him, "You might be bulletproof...but Harlem ain't."
"This city is supposed to represent our hopes and dreams," Luke tells someone in a voiceover. "You have to fight for what's right, every single day."
A local TV reporter asks Luke "Why don't you just tell us your name?" as Luke lowers his hoodie and turns to her slowly, as if he's about to speak.
Lastly, we see Pop and Luke inside the barber shop, talking about what's been happening. "The whole neighborhood is yappin' about how two goons got the beatdown last night," says Pop.
Luke looks up from reading a copy of Little Green: An Easy Rawlins Mystery by Walter Mosley and replies with a smile "I heard it was four guys."
If you'd like to check out the trailer, you can view it below thanks to the official Netflix US & Canada account on YouTube...
All 13 episodes of Luke Cage will be available September 30th on Netflix.