For years, fans of the Netflix Marvel series held out hope that Mike Colter would one day put on the yellow shirt again and step back into the unbreakable skin of Luke Cage. That hope finally has a real reason to exist. The actor who played Harlem’s hero for two seasons on Netflix has confirmed that he is now in active discussions with Marvel Studios about bringing the character into the official Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Colter’s latest comments mark a major shift from his previous stance. For a long time, he consistently told reporters and fans that he had moved on from the role. But with Daredevil: Born Again successfully bringing back Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, and with Krysten Ritter confirmed to return as Jessica Jones, the pieces are falling into place for a full Defenders reunion. Colter now admits he has “unfinished business” with Luke Cage and has been talking to the right people to make it happen.
What Mike Colter Said About His MCU Conversations
The update came during an appearance on Shawn Stockman’s On That Note podcast. When asked directly about the possibility of returning as Luke Cage, Colter did not dodge the question or give the usual polite “never say never” response. Instead, he confirmed that conversations have already taken place behind the scenes .
“I will say this, I’ve had conversations,” Colter said on the podcast. “I’ve had conversations, and I’ll leave it at that. I’ve had some conversations” . The actor made it clear that this is a new development. In the past, he would immediately shut down any talk of a comeback, but things feel different now .
He explained why his mindset has changed over the years. “Before I was [like] ‘no.’ Look, I love playing Luke Cage, but I also love acting, I love doing different things,” he said. “So I was like, ‘I’m going to do something else.’ But I love the fans, and I love that world, and it’s been years now, so now I’m doing other projects, but I think to myself, ‘there’s some unfinished business there’” .
Colter also revealed that he has spoken directly with Cheo Hodari Coker, the creator and showrunner of the original Luke Cage series. The fact that both the actor and the creative mind behind the show are talking about what comes next suggests that serious thought is being given to how Luke Cage could fit into the current MCU landscape .
From “No” to “Let’s Talk”: Why Colter Changed His Mind
For anyone who has followed Colter’s interviews over the years, this news is surprising. As recently as 2023, the actor was telling ComicBook.com that he did not think about Luke Cage opportunities anymore. He even said he was “more than happy to let someone else take on that mantle or that role” .
So what changed? The answer seems to be a combination of time, distance, and watching his former co-stars get another chance.
By 2024, Colter’s tone had already started to soften. He told reporters that he would “love to explore it, if they found some story, some way, somewhere, to take it” . Now, with Daredevil: Born Again proving that the Netflix era can successfully continue on Disney+, and with Krysten Ritter officially coming back as Jessica Jones, the door is wide open .
Seeing Ritter return was clearly a big factor for Colter. After all, Luke Cage was first introduced in Jessica Jones season 1 before getting his own show. Their characters share a deep history, both in the comics and on screen. “Now I’ve reached the point where I’m like, ‘I have some unfinished business’ and I think Daredevil’s back so, c’mon… Jessica’s back,” Colter said .
The actor also acknowledged that fans never stopped wanting to see him return. “I was giving no one hope before, I am giving hope at least,” he said .
Where Could Luke Cage Show Up Next?
The most obvious place for Luke Cage to return is in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again. The season is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on March 4, 2026, and it already has a major selling point: Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones is confirmed to appear .
With Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin now serving as the Mayor of New York City in the MCU, the street-level heroes have a common enemy to face. The storyline is perfectly set up for a team-up. At the end of the Netflix Luke Cage series, the character took control of Harlem’s criminal underworld to protect it from the outside. That version of Luke Cage would have a lot to offer Daredevil and Jessica Jones as they deal with Fisk’s anti-vigilante agenda .
There is also the possibility of a new Defenders project. With Matt Murdock, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage all potentially active in the same city, bringing them back together for another team-up event would make sense. Marvel has already greenlit a third season of Daredevil: Born Again, which is expected to start filming later this year. That opens up even more opportunities for Colter to suit up .
Colter himself hinted that things could move quickly. “We’re in a better position to see this come into fruition faster than we think,” he said .
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What About Iron Fist?
With Luke Cage and Jessica Jones both on the verge of returning, fans are now asking about the fourth member of the Defenders: Finn Jones as Danny Rand / Iron Fist. The Iron Fist series was the most critically criticized of the Netflix shows, and the character also appeared in Luke Cage season 2 for a fun team-up episode that gave fans a taste of Heroes for Hire.
So far, there has been no official word on whether Finn Jones will also return. But if Marvel is serious about rebuilding the street-level corner of the MCU, leaving out Iron Fist would feel incomplete. The dynamic between Cage and Rand was a highlight of the comics and the brief moments they shared on screen .
For now, all the attention is on Luke Cage. And for the first time in years, it looks like the Power Man is finally coming home.
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For more updates on Marvel casting news and the future of the Defenders in the MCU, keep checking VvipTimes for the latest developments.
