Luke Cage Star Mike Colter Sets 2 Conditions for MCU Return

by

It’s been a while since Mike Colter appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – his last role was a guest appearance in Season 3 of Jessica Jones back in 2019. Now that Krysten Ritter is reprising her role as Jessica Jones in Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again, Colter has discussed what it would take for him to return as Luke Cage.

In a recent conversation, Mike Colter shared what he feels are the essential elements for Luke Cage’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He explained that he’d like to see Luke grapple with the responsibilities of truly controlling Harlem and explore whether he can maintain his moral code while wielding that power, avoiding compromises that would stain his integrity.

The Netflix series Luke Cage concluded with its hero becoming a pillar of the Harlem community, running the Harlem’s Paradise nightclub and subtly managing the city’s criminal activity.

So, apparently, when taking on the Luke Cage project, Colter wasn’t just focused on picking up where the Netflix show left off. He really wanted to weave in more of the classic comic book storylines, but the big challenge was doing it without messing up the established Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. It was a balancing act, for sure – honoring the source material while staying consistent with everything else Marvel’s been building.

The actor pointed out that inconsistencies have popped up over the years in various shows, often due to different writers. They admitted not knowing where the story is headed, noting that even large franchises like the Cinematic Universe sometimes disregard established rules and continuity.

Colter expressed optimism that the creators will draw inspiration from the comic books and deliver something fans will enjoy.

Mike Colter Has Unfinished Business With Luke Cage

The actor recently made new statements, about a month after he said he was considering returning to play Luke Cage.

In January 2026, Colter stated he’d had discussions about returning, but didn’t offer specifics. He expressed his affection for the fans and the environment, adding that after several years, he feels he still has goals to achieve there.

Colter believes Luke Cage could appear in several upcoming Marvel projects, including a potential third season of Daredevil: Born Again, a new Luke Cage series, or a Jessica Jones project. He told The Direct that all of these options are possible, as there are many directions Luke Cage’s story could go.

He pointed out that there are several potential starting points for new stories, including continuations of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, explorations of the Daredevil universe, and possibilities for Iron Fist. He feels there’s a lot of narrative potential across these characters and shows.

Is Luke Cage in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2?

Although Mike Colter recently said he hasn’t committed to returning as Luke Cage in future Marvel projects, it’s possible he’s just keeping it a secret. With Krysten Ritter confirmed to reprise her role as Jessica Jones in Season 2 of Born Again, fans have been wondering if Colter might also make a comeback to the MCU.

At the end of Season 1 of Born Again, Daredevil was forced to go into hiding when Mayor Fisk made vigilantism illegal in New York City. The new season will show Daredevil building a team to fight back against Fisk and his task force dedicated to stopping vigilantes, and Jessica Jones will be one of his allies.

Given that Luke Cage teamed up with Daredevil in The Defenders, it’s logical Daredevil would reach out to him again, particularly now that Luke Cage seems to be running things in Harlem.

Until Colter’s MCU return is announced, fans can revisit both seasons of Luke Cage on Disney+.

Read More

2026-02-19 19:38