Mike Colter Gives the Best Update on Luke Cage’s Marvel Return

After years of playing coy, actor Mike Colter is finally giving fans a reason to hope for the return of Harlem’s Hero for Hire. In a major shift from his previous stance, the Luke Cage star has revealed that talks about a potential comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are indeed happening.

Mike Colter talks having conversations with Marvel about Luke Cage

For years following the abrupt cancellation of the Netflix Luke Cage series, Mike Colter downplayed the possibility of reprising his role as the bulletproof powerhouse. Often expressing a desire to explore other characters, he even once suggested Marvel might recast with a younger actor. However, the scene shifted as Disney began formally integrating Netflix-era characters like Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones into the official MCU, reigniting speculation about the rest of the Defenders.

Colter has recently fueled this speculation through cryptic social media teases and convention appearances. But he’s now moved beyond hints to a more concrete admission. Speaking on Shawn Stockman’s On That Note, the actor confirmed that discussions about his return are happening.

“Listen, I will say this… I’ve had conversations… and I’ll leave it at that,” Colter said. He went on to explain why his outlook has shifted after several years away from the character: “So I love the fans, and I love that world. And so it’s been years now. So now, like, you know, I’m doing other projects, but now I think to myself, I have some unfinished business there.”

Mike Colter also revealed that he has revisited the Luke Cage idea with the show’s creator and pointed to the broader Marvel’s stance shifting in favor of legacy characters. “I talked to Cheo [Hodari Coker] about it… I think Daredevil’s back… Jessica’s back… we’re in a better position to see this come into fruition faster than we think. Yeah, so, we’ll see,” he said.

This is a major change from his previous answers. As Colter put it, “I was giving no one hope before. I’m giving hope [now], at least.”