The Sopranos star Annabella Sciorra will star in the second series of Marvel’s Luke Cage, it has been announced.
The announcement comes five months after Sciorra accused producer Harvey Weinstein of raping her decades ago and just weeks after she appeared at the Oscars with fellow accusers Ashley Judd and Salma Hayek.
Sciorra, best known for playing Gloria Trillo in the New Jersey mob show, will join the Netflix series to play Rosalie Carbone, described by Marvel as “a dangerous downtown criminal underworld power player with an eye, and an agenda, toward Harlem.”
She will star opposite Mike Colter as Luke Cage, Simone Missick as Misty Knight and Alfre Woodard as Mariah Dillard, the comic book company announced on Marvel.com.
Step up. I am Harlem and Harlem is me. pic.twitter.com/nCgSY2EK4n
— Luke Cage (@LukeCage) March 6, 2018
Cheo Hodari Coker, executive producer and showrunner of Luke Cage, said: “I’ve been a huge fan of hers since Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever, and Anabella Sciorra is no joke as Rosalie Carbone.
“You haven’t seen her this gangster since her thrilling turn as Tony’s formidable flame Gloria Trillo on Season 3 of The Sopranos.
“I’m thrilled her introduction to the Marvel Universe will be on Marvel’s Luke Cage.”
Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s head of television, added: ““We couldn’t be happier to be working with such an incredible talent. This character is complex and layered and Annabella is the perfect actress to portray her.”
Weinstein has denied all allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
Series two of Marvel’s Luke Cage will premiere on Netflix on June 22.