Is Luke Cage Returning? Mike Colter Teases Role in Daredevil: Born Again
Mike Colter just inched closer to an MCU homecoming as Luke Cage, hinting at a possible Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 role.
Marvel has been slowly sliding the old Defenders crew back into the main MCU spotlight, and now Luke Cage himself is sounding optimistic. Mike Colter just gave his clearest signal yet that he expects to suit up again.
Where the Defenders stand right now
- Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 (2024) kicked this off with a new New York City storyline and the returns of Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock), Vincent D'Onofrio (Wilson Fisk), and Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle).
- Jessica Jones is up next: Krysten Ritter is confirmed for Season 2, making her the second of the original four Defenders leads back under the current Marvel Studios banner.
- That leaves Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones). Both have said they’re open to it, and as of early 2026, those conversations are picking up.
Mike Colter: the door is open
On Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast, Colter said he has spoken with Marvel and that the timing finally feels right.
"I do think now it’s time. I’ve had discussions with Marvel, and I do think that it’s very, very likely that I will come back at some point, but I don’t know when. But I think I will."
He also owned up to previously being on the fence, chalking it up to headspace, not reluctance.
"I wasn’t really thinking about it or interested in it. And now, I’m thinking about it a little more, because it’s been enough time... I feel like I could do it again. Maybe there’s some stuff we could do that’s different from the last time."
Where Luke Cage left off
The most recent snapshot of Luke Cage was a quick cameo in the Jessica Jones Season 3 finale back in 2019, dropping into Jessica’s office with some well-timed advice as she wrestled with Trish. Before that, he took over Harlem’s Paradise from Mariah Dillard, stepping into a complicated kind of leadership role in Harlem. For anyone clocking the small stuff, Born Again Season 1 even flashed a Harlem’s Paradise sign during Kingpin’s big early speech — a clean little breadcrumb.
What this sets up
With Daredevil firmly reinstalled and Jessica Jones reentering the mix, Luke Cage feels like the next logical domino. Colter’s tone has shifted from casual to confident, and if he does step back in, that would make three of the four Defenders back in play — with Finn Jones as the last piece waiting on the board.
Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 starts streaming March 24, 2026 on Disney+.