Isaiah Mustafa aka the Old Spice man has posted a video petition on YouTube for the role of Luke Cage.

Hero Complex, a Los Angeles Times blog, posted a small blurb about an actor being in preliminary talks for Luke Cage.

Movie Hole talked to Brian J. White (Fighting) who revealed that he is really interested in the Luke Cage role.

MTV talked to Tyrese Gibson, who is still interested in playing Luke Cage.

Latino Review talked to director Malcolm Lee (Soul Men) about adapting Power Man and Iron Fist.

SuperHero Hype talked to Tyrese Gibson, who has been rumored for the lead in Luke Cage since the movie was announced.

In June 2003, Columbia Pictures acquired the rights for a Luke Cage movie that would be penned by screenwriter Ben Ramsey (Big Hit) and produced by Avi Arad of Marvel Studios. In January 2004, producer Kevin Feige said that the Luke Cage movie would target a 2005 release. At Wizard World Los Angeles in March 2004, newly attached director John Singleton said that the villain Diamondback would make an appearance, and the director hoped to include other villains such as Chemistro and the Wrecking Crew. Singleton hoped to start production by summer 2004 in time for a 2005 release.

However, production for the film was delayed, as Marvel's Peter Cuneo announced in December 2004 that Luke Cage would have a 2006 release date. In January 2006, producer Avi Arad stated that he hoped that Luke Cage would be "brutal enough" for an R rating and that it would have an urban soundtrack. According to Arad, "The whole idea behind Luke Cage is that he's anything but a hero. He's for hire, and men like that find out it's a good business by accident. And then [finds out] what's really inside him."

In January 2004, Feige said that Ramsey had turned in an initial draft that was "totally contemporary Cage and a helluva lot of fun". At Wizard World Los Angeles in March 2004, director John Singleton said that Ramsey was working on a new draft for the film. In August 2006, Tyrese, a strong candidate to play Luke Cage in the film, said that the studio was doing a rewrite of the project.

In March 2005, producer Avi Arad said that the studio was interested in Jamie Foxx to portray Luke Cage but reconsidered due to Foxx's heightened prominence with his Oscar win for Ray. At a press junket for Four Brothers in July 2005, director John Singleton said that he was interested in Tyrese Gibson portraying Luke Cage for the film, but said he had told Tyrese that the actor would need to work out to get the role. Singleton also expressed interest in casting Terrence Howard to portray the villain Diamondback. In January 2006, Tyrese, who recently completed Annapolis, said that he was working out to become massive for the role of Luke Cage. In August 2006, Tyrese said that he was not yet committed to Luke Cage, but was still interested in the role.