Mahershala Ali Joins Marvel’s Luke Cage as Villain 'Cottonmouth'

House of cards star Mahershala Ali, who will next be seen in ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,’ has signed on to play Cornell ‘Cottonmouth’ Stokes. He joins the recently announced Rosario Dawson, who will reprise her ‘Daredevil’ role as Claire Temple, and former star ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Theo Rossi.

"Mahershala is an actor of extraordinary range and gravitas. As Cottonmouth he will really let loose," said Executive Producer/Head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb in the announcement. "Luke Cage won’t know what hit him."

Cage is the third series that is a part of the Marvel and Netflix collaboration that includes Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and after Luke Cage, Iron Fist. The characters from the four series will appear together as a part of a miniseries tentatively titled The Defenders. Luke Cage series is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix, and will premiere in 2016.

Ali’s film credits include Making Revolution, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Crossing Over, Predators, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Go for Sisters. Ali is best known for playing Boggs in last year's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and this year's upcoming franchise finale The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, which hits theaters November 20.  Ali will next be seen on the big screen in The Free State of Jones, alongside Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Keri Russell, which hits theaters March 11, 2016.