Marvel and Netflix have found their Luke Cage.

Following an extensive casting search, The Following and The Good Wife alum Mike Colter has officially nabbed the sought-after role, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

During the course of an investigation in New York, private investigator Jessica Jones encounters the enigmatic Luke Cage — a man whose past has secrets that will dramatically alter Jessica herself in ways she could never have imagined.

Colter will make his Marvel universe debut with the recurring role opposite Krysten Ritter in Jessica Jones — the second of four dramas picked up straight to series — before being spun off to topline the Luke Cage show. He'll eventually team with Daredevil's Charlie Cox, Ritter and the uncast Iron Fist in mini The Defenders to conclude all four stories. Twilight's Melissa Rosenberg will oversee Jessica Jones.

Read more Get to Know Marvel's 'Defenders'

Luke Cage first appeared in his own series, Luke Cage, Hero for Hire, in June 1972. The character started as an ex-con who received superhuman strength following prison experiments. In more recent years, the character wound up in a relationship with Jessica Jones and joined the Avengers, eventually leading the Thunderbolts.

Colter's credits include TNT's upcoming Sharon Stone drama Agent X, Halo, American Horror Story, Ringer and features Men in Black 3 and Salt. He's repped by Gersh, Silver Lining Entertainment and McKuin Frankel.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com

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