Warning: The following contains spoilers for season 2 ofMarvel’s Luke Cage.
Read at your own risk!
He can’t be, can he?
Credit: David Lee/Netflix; Inset: Steven Ferdman/FilmMagic
Mike didn’t play it like that.
It’s the same lesson that Michael Corleone got [inThe Godfather]…
So, is my view for Luke Cage, or Luke Corleone, more pessimistic?
David Lee/Netflix
I would say no, but it’s interesting to play with.
Luke’s getting a lot of nicknames that are nothing like “Harlem’s hero.”
It’s a lesson from [The Wirecreator] David Simon.
Sarah Shatz/Netflix.Sarah Shatz/Netflix
So for us, it’s like, are we making an analogy about the Trump administration?
Yes, we are, but if you don’t get the references, it’s okay.
God forbid somebody misinterprets that line as us trying to give Trump a shout-out.
Netflix; Myles Aronowitz/Netflix.Netflix; Myles Aronowitz/Netflix
That’s not the case at all.
That’s what D.W. is saying.
I think, ultimately, [the comparison] elevates the season.
What made you want to end the season on this note?
Why end like this?
Because I want people to clamor for a season 3.
[Laughs] I want people to question who Luke Cage is.
If season 1 was “Who is Luke Cage?”
How did Alfre react to being told she’d be leaving the series?
It’s going to be a lot more emotional than that."
I love writing for Alfre.
She’s so playful.
She makes for a wonderful villain.
Why not include him at all this season?
Here’s the thing: I love Diamondback, and I love Erik LaRay Harvey.
It was Erik’s audition forCottonmouththat changed the trajectory of the series.
I had always planned on killing Cottonmouth off.
That wasalwaysgoing to be the twist.
I’m extremely happy with the one that we have right now.
Just to clarify, your decisionnotto bring Diamondback back this season was because of the fan reaction?
Look at something likeDaredevil: They did [season 2 with] the Punisher and other story lines.
I mean, if I tell you everything, why watch season 3?
[Laughs]
Fair enoughbut whatisthe status on season 3?
Netflix likes critical attention and they like their analytics.
I think review-wise, we’ve done pretty well.
I come from hip-hopmeaning that I don’t mind if you come at me.
In fact, I prefer it.
But I prefer that you come at the show with credible critique.
Don’t say, “Out of 13 hours, only four weren’t a waste of time.”
Because I’m a former critic, I view criticism differently than most do.
I can take criticism but if you’re going to eviscerate us, be specific.
Don’t be lazy, because I can tell whether or not you’ve seen all 13.
But to get back to your question: Netflix always likes to take their time to think about things.
Do things look good for a season 3?
I hope, but it’s really going to depend on having enough people watch the show.
Anybody can get canceled.
Honestly, it’s like jazz.
In the bebop era, it used to be that you only had three minutes to make a song.
It’s like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollinsit changes jazz because you could stretch.
Like, he wants Taylor Swift, Britney Spears.We’retrying to make Zeppelin records.
Like, God forbid that song meanders, especially as it builds to its climax.
He’s the kind of person who probably wanted to edit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” you know?
And I get it.
Is there anything else you want to add?
I really love the season, and I hope people enjoy it.
I know that we could not have tried any harder.
I’d rather people hate something than just go “meh.”
Marvel’s Luke Cageseason 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
