Netflix has finally been able to sign Game of Thrones star Finn Jones as the main character in its upcoming Iron Fist series, sources told Deadline. This, if true, will end the months of speculation about the choice Marvel might make with the martial arts superhero.
Iron Fist to join other Netflix Marvel characters
Finn will play Daniel Rand, also known as The Immortal Iron Fist, based on the Marvel comics character that debuted in 1974. Rand fights villains in New York City with his mastery of Kung Fu and the mystical Iron Fist technique that gives him improved healing, telepathy, super strength and reflexes. Rand is portrayed as a handsome, sophisticated loner who returns to New York after having spent several years missing.
The Netflix show is expected to premiere sometime in 2017 ahead of the planned Defenders crossover event, which will see Iron Fist joining forces with fellow Netflix Marvel characters Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, says a report from Deadline. We might also see Rand and Luke Cage together as Iron Fist has a long history with the latter in Marvel Comics, in which the duo often teamed. In a series, the pair starred from 1978-1986.
Netflix criticized for casting “white” Iron Fist
Before the casting of Finn, there was a wide speculation on who would be cast and whether the role would be re-imagined as Asian-American. But it appears Marvel cleared up all doubts by sticking to the character’s comic book roots. Marjorie Liu, a very prominent Marvel comic-book writer, criticized the casting of Jones in the titular role. Apart from Liu, many others were outraged that Netflix didn’t cast an Asian actor for the lead role.
Liu, who wrote Dark Wolverine and X-22 for Marvel, tweeted, “Iron Fist is an orientalist-white-man-yellow-fever narrative. [An] Asian actor would have helped subvert that offensive trope, and reclaim space.”
In December, the famous comic writer also tweeted that she wouldn’t be watching the series if they cast a white man. Iron Fist, who was introduced during the 1970s martial art craze culture, was a white man trained in martial arts in the secret mystical city of K’un L’un. However, many thought the television adaptation presents an opportunity to inject some diversity.
