Mike Colter Talks About Returning to Play Luke Cage In the MCU and Credits Fans as His Greatest Motivation
With the return of the superhero Daredevil in Marvel’s Disney+ series Daredevil: Born Again, fans were eager to see the rest of the Defenders return as well.
It was a slow trickle, with Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones dropping in halfway through season 2, and Mike Colter’s Luke Cage finally making his return in the season 2 finale. Finn Jones's Danny Rand (Iron Fist) is expected to make his comeback in season 3, reuniting the crew that originated on Netflix almost a decade ago.
Mike Colter’s fans have been petitioning for the continuation of Luke Cage’s storyline since it left off, and the actor credits those fans as the reason he loves the role.
In an interview with Collider, Colter said of his return: “It wasn’t at the forefront of my mind, but I really enjoyed playing the character. I probably enjoy it as much for the fans than anything.
“I think the diehard Luke Cage fans and Marvel fans enjoy these characters, so it’s bringing a bit of joy to their lives. That’s where I am on it right now. I love doing it for the people.”
He went on to compare the return of fan-favorite characters to the return of classic bands, like Led Zeppelin or Oasis, and he shared:
"I’ve met people over the years that I would consider some of the great frontmen of bands. I got a chance to meet Chris Cornell shortly before he passed away, just randomly.
“I was a big fan of their music and their artistry. Even if they hadn’t played for years, you pick it back up, even if it’s for a night. Oasis took 20 years. It doesn’t matter, people want to see Oasis get back together.
“ABBA stopped, but if ABBA came back and did a reunion, we’re going to go see it. There’s always someone who wants to see that greatness. I don’t care how long it takes, we will wait.
“And if they come back, we will be there. That’s how I feel about The Defenders and Luke Cage. If you bring it back, somebody will be interested in seeing it.”
It will be awesome to see this particular band back together in Daredevil: Born Again season 3. Stay tuned for updates.