A pillar of the 2010s-era Netflix Marvel series, Luke Cage debuted in 2016 with Mike Colter in the titular role. Sharing continuity with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist, the two-season series initially worked in tandem with the others to set up the crossover event series, The Defenders.

Ultimately, Netflix’s Marvel series met its end alongside its sister series as they were all canceled by 2019 and removed from the platform by 2022. Since then, Daredevil has been revived by Disney+ as Daredevil: Born Again for a three-season run, the first of which premiered in 2025. It featured the return of Netflix-era cast members Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Jon Bernthal, among others, and officially confirmed their status as canon to the Marvel CInematic Universe.

The second season will bring back Jessica Jones star Krysten Ritter, leading to speculation that more cast members from The Defenders may return. In a recent appearance on Shawn Stockman’s On That Note, Colter addressed the possibility of reprising Luke and explained why he was once reluctant to do so.

“Listen, I will say this: I’ve had conversations,” the actor stated. “I would tell people no, because I actually was like, when it wrapped, ‘I love playing Luke Cage, but I also just […] love acting. I love doing different things.'” Despite his prior hesitation to revive the role, Colter said noted that he loves Marvel fans and the series’ world.

However, after a few years, Colter realized he may “have some unfinished business there.” The actor revealed that he has spoken to Luke Cage creator and showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker about the hero’s future.

“You know, Daredevil’s back,” he continued. “So I’m like ‘bring the defenders back. Bring Jessica back.‘” He then noted that the latter came to fruition with Ritter’s return, further hinting his own may be on the way.

“I would say we’re in a better position to see this come into fruition faster than we think,” he concluded. “We’ll see.” Colter has teased the possibility before by playing coy as to why fans keep asking him to return: “I don’t know why people keep asking me this. There [are] no signs. It’s not like they’ve just recently revived one of the Marvel Netflix shows.“

Notably, Colter and Iron Fist star Finn Jones were spotted in New York around the time that Born Again season two was filming, further fueling speculation regarding a Defenders reunion. Daredevil: Born Again season two returns in March 2026, and based on Colter’s comments, it may not be long before Luke Cage is also onscreen again.