The potential for a reunion of the original Defenders team within the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to build, with Luke Cage actor Mike Colter confirming ongoing discussions with Marvel Studios. While Krysten Ritter is set to reprise her role as Jessica Jones in the second season of “Daredevil: Born Again,” the future of other key players from the Netflix era – including Colter’s Luke Cage and Finn Jones’ Iron Fist – remained uncertain until now.
Colter, speaking at Fan Expo Vancouver, addressed speculation surrounding his possible appearance in the new “Daredevil” season. He confirmed that conversations with Marvel are still taking place, expressing a desire to return to the role that made him a fan favorite. “Look, I mean, here’s the thing: I have been talking to Marvel, and Jessica [Jones]’ back, and there’s a lot of story left to tell, and I just think that it’d be a shame for me not to pop back up,” Colter told The Direct.
This statement represents Colter’s most direct acknowledgment of active negotiations with Marvel, following earlier comments in January 2026 where he simply stated that “conversations” had occurred. The return of Jessica Jones to the MCU through “Daredevil: Born Again” appears to have paved the way for further reintegration of the Netflix-era heroes, signaling a shift in Marvel’s approach to its pre-existing television properties.
However, Colter’s path back to the MCU hasn’t been without its setbacks. He also discussed the abrupt cancellation of “Ship,” a sequel to the 2023 action thriller “Plane,” in which he co-starred alongside Gerard Butler. The film, which saw Butler as a pilot forced to protect his passengers after a crash landing, grossed $74 million worldwide against a $25 million budget, prompting plans for a follow-up.
Colter was slated to reprise his role as Louis Gaspare in “Ship,” with Butler producing and making a cameo appearance. The sequel’s script reportedly focused on the aftermath of the first film, exploring Gaspare’s escape from the island and his subsequent journey. However, just two weeks before production was scheduled to begin, Butler reportedly withdrew from the project, effectively halting its development.
“It just, last-minute, Gerard [Butler] decided he didn’t want to go forward with it, and there wasn’t a lot of discussion about it,” Colter explained. “He just… two weeks out, he pulled out and we were sort of left trying to figure out what to do. And eventually, that dissolved.” Colter expressed his enthusiasm for the script, noting that it “was basically picking up where we left off, what happened to that character, and how’d he get off the island. That was where we were gonna go with it. So, I was excited about it.”
The reason behind Butler’s decision to abandon “Ship” remains unclear. The cancellation highlights the often-fragile nature of film projects, even those with proven financial success. Despite this disappointment, Colter remains focused on his career, currently collaborating with Robert and Michelle King, the showrunners of his previous series “Evil,” on a new television project titled “Cupertino.”
The developments surrounding both Colter’s potential MCU return and the cancellation of “Ship” underscore the complex dynamics of the entertainment industry. While the future of the Defenders remains uncertain, the ongoing conversations between Colter and Marvel suggest that Luke Cage’s story may not be over. The cancellation of “Ship,” serves as a reminder that even promising sequels can fall through due to unforeseen circumstances and the decisions of key personnel.
The integration of the Netflix Marvel shows into the broader MCU canon, beginning with Daredevil’s return, has opened up a wealth of possibilities for the future of these characters. Whether Luke Cage will ultimately join Daredevil and Jessica Jones in the MCU remains to be seen, but Colter’s willingness to revisit the role, coupled with Marvel’s apparent openness to incorporating the Netflix era, suggests that a reunion is increasingly plausible.
