Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Luke Cage’: Season 2 Introduces Mustafa Shakir, as Bushmaster, Cage’s Newest Rival

mustafa shakir - luke cage - netflix

*Marvel comics’ bulletproof black superhero, Luke Cage is back fighting crime on the streets of Harlem NY for Season 2 on Netflix with a serious challenge awaiting him, super villain John “Bushmaster” McIver, played by Mustafa Shakir (The Deuce, The Night Of).

Caribbean gangster Bushmaster, first appeared in the Marvel Comic series Ironfist and is the only man walking the streets of NY who can go toe-to-toe with Luke Cage (played by Mike Colter). He is strong, bulletproof and is coming for our Hero for Hire.

“Bushmaster’s rivalry with Luke Cage started as just jealousy,” explains actor Shakir. “But ultimately Luke is in Bushmaster’s way. They have the same ultimate goal, to defeat Black Mariah (played by Alfre Woodard), but they have very different methods.” Acknowledging that they could do more working together, the two do sit down and talk a few times this season and try to put an end to their rivalry. They even team up in one episode, but that doesn’t last long, Shakir says, because “my character is so staunch on being murderous and Luke is not with that. He is the son of a Pastor.”

Bringing down Mariah Dillard – gun smuggler and The Queen of Harlem – is both Luke Cage and Bushmaster’s goal, but for very different reasons. Bushmaster, who is Mariah’s cousin, is fighting to “avenge his family name,” says Shakir. Bushmaster believes Mariah’s empire is his birthright. Cage, however, is looking to keep his Hamlet of Harlem safe. And Harlem is rooting for Cage, their savior, to serve Bushmaster a deserving beat down, but Cage instead suffers a very public pounding making the Caribbean thug not just a physical threat, but a threat to Cage’s ego and reputation. Harlem begins to loose faith in their hero. And the Bushmaster/Cage rivalry also pits Harlem’s African American communities and the Caribbean communities against each other.

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mustafa shakir - luke cage fight

The fight scenes between Cage and Bushmaster this season are all that anyone is talking about. There’s a lot of action and a lot if stunts.

“I did a majority of my own stunts except for the tricks, says Shakir. “You only live once. I work out 6 to 7 times a week and I’m always active. It’s great to do a role were you can use all of your tools, but we do have an excellent stunt team and they are great to work with.”

“Luke Cage” may be based on a comic book with black super heroes and super villains, but the series is well-written with great acting.

“Working with Mike Colter is special, says Shakir. “He’s a great guy. We’re big kids on set. We’re both comfortable in our skin and with the physicality of the roles. I call Alfre Woodard the O.G. Working with her is a dream. She is a walking master class and a dynamic force as a human being. She is so committed in everything she does. It is an honor to work with her and do scenes with her.”

Alfre Woodard’s evil character Mariah is also the owner of the night club Harlem Paradise, which creates great opportunities for celebrities to make appearances on the show. This season look for performances and appearances from Joi, Ghostfast, Rakim, Raphael Saadiq, Esperanza Spaulding, Stephen Marley, Jadakiss, KRS-One and Faith Evans, who also appeared in Season 1.

“Luke Cage” is executive produced and created by Cheo Hodari Coker, a former journalist whose foray into screenwriting came with penning the biographical film Notorious, about Notorious B.I.G, after chronicling the rapper’s career for Vibe and The Source.

In a ground-breaking move, Netflix/Marvel have hired women directors for almost half of season 2 episodes. The season premiere is directed by Lucy Lui with other episodes directed by Kasi Lemmons, Salli Richardson Whitfield, Millicent Shelton and Steph Green

Donna Torrence, actor/model and former entertainment publicist  – IG: @donnatorrence_

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