Exclusive: Mike Colter Talks Girls Trip Blu-ray & Luke Cage Season 2

Exclusive: Mike Colter Talks Girls Trip Blu-ray & Luke Cage Season 2
Posted by Wilson Morales

October 16, 2017

Coming out on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on October 17, 2017 is the year’s biggest R-rated comedy and runaway hit with audiences and critics alike, GIRLS TRIP.

Follow four best friends on an adventure of a lifetime as they reunite for a weekend of fun, festivities and outrageous adventures only to learn they are not as strong apart as they are together. With over an hour of exclusive UNRATED bonus content, GIRLS TRIP Blu-ray, DVD and Digital versions feature even more of the group’s outrageous shenanigans with deleted and extended scenes, gag reel and more that will have everyone laughing again and again!

When four lifelong friends, known as the Flossy Posse, get together nothing can stop them but themselves. As the four independent friends reunite from across the country and travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival, sisterhoods are rekindled, wild sides are rediscovered, and there’s enough dancing, drinking, brawling and romancing to make the Big Easy blush.

Girls Trip is the 1st film to gross over $100M that was produced, directed, written and starring African Americans.

Director Malcolm D. Lee delivers an over-the-top laugh fest with an all-star cast as the Flossy Posse including Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah.

Cast members also include Mike Colter, Kofi Soriboe and Larenz Tate (Starz’s “Power”). Produced by Will Packer and with a screenplay by Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver,  GIRLS TRIP is a riotously funny and outrageous delight not to be missed!

For Colter, this has been a great two years for the South Carolina native. Not only is he starring as Luke Cage on the Marvel’s Luke Cage for Netflix but now he’s also in a box office hit. With fans patiently waiting for the second season of Luke Cage, Colter spoke with Blackfilm.com regarding the Blu-ray release of Girls Trip and some info of the Luke Cage.

What was it like filming Girls Trip?

Mike Colter: I was always a fan of Jada, Regina and Queen Latifah. I read the script and there were too many good things to pass up on this. It was just a fun. It was really one of those times where you go, “This is really fun and we’re having fun and I hope people feel that way when they watch it.” The whole experience, much like the film, was fun.

Although many saw the film, but for those who haven’t, how would you describe your character?

Mike Colter: The first thing I would say is that he is misunderstood. I’m not trying to make any excuses on his behavior but what I would say about my character is that why we don’t want to be that guy, there are those sort of people in life that are selfish and do things for themselves. Ultimately, if you have seen the movie, you see how it happens. I don’t think he intended to be the way he was. It just happened. The next thing you know he is justifying his behavior and in sense, it’s like normalcy for him. He’s normalized something that’s horrendous in our culture but brought it to a sense of normalcy and why people were turned off by it.

What drew you to the character?

Mike Colter: No one wants to play the unliked character. That being said, the story has to be told and when I thought about it, I want to play a character. I want to play something different. I play Luke Cage and he’s a good guy. With this film, he goes from hero to heel. Me and Malcolm wanted the character to be understandable and relatable. We didn’t want folks to hate the character but to understand him. He’s not malicious, but he doesn’t quite understand how he got himself in that position.

Can you talk about working with the cast?

Mike Colter: Everyone comes in and they are known for a certain thing, but we hadn’t seen Jada and Queen Latifah on screen together for a very long time. We hadn’t seen Tiffany come into her own and this was a breakout role for her. She came along and killed it. Regina is not always the lead and gets a lot of supporting roles, but this was great for her to do this role. We had a number of folks doing cameos. It’s a very unique, authentic viewing movie because when people go to New Orleans that’s what they are going to feel. The ensemble also includes New Orleans. It also includes Larenz Tate, who I watched growing up and have known for a few years now.

Why do you think folks came out and supported this film, which surprised everyone when it made over $100M dollars?

Mike Colter: I think, surprisingly enough when I spoke to people, it works because it caught people off-guard. I don’t think people had expectations for it. The trailer didn’t give it all away. The movie has heart and it’s something that snuck up on people. It’s also unapologetic. These characters know who they are. They are not shying away from it. They are not apologizing for it and it caught people off guard. At the same time, the movie is not for everyone. I have never seen a comedy that didn’t offend anyone. You do what you do and you do it well. Word of mouth is really good. Some people saw it more than once. When some people saw it the first time, they had a good time and wanted to experience it again when they saw it with different friends who were seeing it for the first time.

Now that you’re the lead of a TV series and in a top grossing film, how does that make you feel?

Mike Colter: I still have a long ways to go. I’m still finding my way. Business has been good to me and I have a lot to be happy about. I chose to play a hero because I’m not a hero and I want to diversify my portfolio. I like when people don’t know what to expect from me. That’s what I strive for. To keep people off balance.

With Luke Cage, do you have an idea when Season 2 will launch?

Mike Colter: We’re working on it right now. It will be sometime next year. We’re not finished filming yet and after that, it’s based on timing and when they want to drop it. It’s like a record. “When do you want to drop it?” Netflix has their own agenda and their own schedule, so I’ll assume it’s next year. How soon? I don’t know, but hopefully the first quarter or first half.

Through the images that have been released in the press, we now know that Danny Rand aka Iron Fist will be on the second season of Luke Cage. What will be different with Iron Fist on there?

Mike Colter: There are people that love the idea of Heroes for Hire. When people saw The Defenders, they thought the relationship was good between Finn and I and they are curious. They want to see more of that. He will bring some fresh blood in the new season and I’m hoping that people will respond to it well. We are teamed up for a bit. That’s the whole point of bringing that flavor to it. I can see how this works. That’s what good about it. We’re giving people what they want. A lot of times people wanted to see Jessica Jones and Luke and what happens to them; but we went out on a limb, and decided to “let’s give a little heroes for hire somewhere in the season and see what happens.” Hopefully people will respond to it.

Will Luke Cage make appearances on any of the other Marvel Netflix series?

Mike Colter: I can not say.

Any other film roles coming up?

Mike Colter: I did “Extinction,” which will probably come out sometime in January or February through Universal. It’s an interesting film starring Michael Pena and Lizzy Caplan and Ben Young is directing that. Early talk is that it’s looking good. It’s a sci-fi thriller. It’s something different. It’s also something that will expand my horizon and goals in different genres.