Mxdwn previously discussed the twitter uproar that occurred after word got out that a white American would be cast for the role of Iron Fist rather than an Asian American. There was backlash because the comic book character wasn’t originally Asian despite having strong roots in Asian culture. Many people felt that by casting a white actor, the series fulfilled the whole white savior complex where a white male character steps into a foreign culture and basically saves the day.
Now, according to Movieweb, Finn Jones will officially portray Iron Fist for Netflix’s Original Series.
The Game of Thrones actor will play Danny Rand who returns to New York City after being missing for years. He fights against rising crime and corruption in New York City using his extraordinary kung-fu skills. Danny Rand also possesses the ability of a fiery iron fist hence his name.
Scott Buck, the executive producer and showrunner for Iron Fist described Danny Rand as “a very complicated character. He’s a billionaire New York Buddhist monk martial arts superhero who’s still trying to figure out what exactly that all means. Finn is able to play all these levels in such an honest, revelatory way that as soon as I saw him I knew he was our Danny.”
Jeph Loeb the Executive Producer and Head of Marvel TV spoke about the casting choice by stating “Finn wonderfully blends confidence with vulnerability, making him the perfect choice as he struggles to find his place in the world. Now that we’ve found our Danny Rand, we’ve completed our principal cast for the upcoming Defenders on Netflix and we are thrilled to continue to show audiences unexplored corners of the Marvel Universe.” Jones will also be seen in Game of Throne’s upcoming season through his role as Ser Loras Tyrell.
Iron Fist is produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Studios for Netflix. The Iron Fist series is the last piece of the Defenders puzzle (Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage) where we will ultimately see these four heroes join forces.
There is no confirmed date for the 13-episode series but in the meantime you can read the details regarding the upcoming release date for Luke Cage or watch the newest Daredevil trailer before its second season debuts on Netflix.