According to the Hollywood Reporter, Columbia Pictures has acquired the rights to one of Marvel Comic's leading black superheroes, Luke Cage.  A prisoner subjected to medical experiments that gave him superpowers, Luke Cage escaped, straightened his life out, and became a 'hero for hire' in the 'hood' as he put his powers to good use protecting folks in his crime-ridden neighborhood from all manner of evildoers. 

Although Marvel and Columbia are embroiled in a legal dispute over the licensing and exploitation of Spider-Man merchandise (see 'Judge Jolts Marvel'), the lawsuit hasn't cooled Columbia's ardor for Marvel properties.  In addition to a sequel to Spider-Man (the most successful superhero film in history), Columbia is also prepping a film based on Marvel's Ghost Rider (see 'Nicholas Cage To Star In Ghost Rider').