If you watched Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 on the 2026 TV schedule like I did, the latest rumor about Season 3 may not come as a huge surprise, but that doesn’t mean I’m not psyched! It sounds like there is at least a decent chance that The Defenders (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist) will be fully reunited in Season 3, and I really hope that is the case. It’s all still rumor at this point, but the amount of smoke is growing, and a fire seems more and more likely. Here’s what we know.

The Reunion That Started In Season 2 Will Allegedly Expand In Season 3

After Disney+ successfully revived what was formerly Netflix’s little corner of Marvel with the first season of Daredevil: Born Again, the streamer upped the ante by adding Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) to the fold in Season 2. Then, after a couple of mentions, we finally got our first look at Luke Cage (Mike Colter) since his own show ended in 2018 at the very end of the season finale. That left just one Defender unaccounted for, Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist (Finn Jones).

Rumors have quickly spread that Iron Fist would be part of Season 3, and this was more or less confirmed when photos of Mike Colter and Finn Jones on set appeared online. Now, a new rumor leans into that and claims that up to half of the upcoming season of Daredevil: Born Again would be about The Defenders. My Time to Shine Hello, who is known for his scoops on X, wrote:

If you’ll recall, Season 2 ended with Daredevil (well, Matt Murdock) getting arrested for being a “vigilante” in the outgoing Mayor Wilson Fisk’s New York, where such behavior was deemed illegal. It sounds like allies are ready to pick up where Daredevil left off, with the potential for a Heroes for Hire project if all goes well.

I Really Hope All Four Defenders Are Involved

I am a big fan of the Marvel shows that started on Netflix with the original Daredevil and continued with spinoffs Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist. Eventually, they all came together in the 8-episode show The Defenders. Those shows have now migrated away from Netflix into the official MCU and can be seen with a Disney+ subscription. I didn’t love The Defenders, but I don’t think Netflix gave them a fighting chance, as the whole enterprise seemed to be running on fumes at the end. I can’t wait to see if Disney+ can revive the superhero team and incorporate them even more into the MCU.

We all know the Avengers are returning on the 2026 movie schedule in Avengers: Doomsday, and I really liked 2025’s Thunderbolts* (though, a Daredevil cameo would have made it better), so bringing back another great superhero team like Defenders is exactly the kind of thing I want from the MCU. Especially because this was a team that started small and grew organically on screen, and that’s how I think things should be done. We’ve got a while to wait for Daredevil: Born Again Season 3 and see if these rumors are true, but it makes total sense, so there’s no reason to believe it’s not true.

The Marvel Netflix era ended years ago, but aspects of that period of television history have been incorporated into Marvel Studios productions over the last year. Charlie Cox first cameoed as Matt Murdock in Spider-Man: No Way Home, then suited back up as Daredevil in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and Vincent D’Onofrio reprised Daredevil’s nemesis Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin, in Hawkeye. So far these are the only Marvel Netflix stars who’ve officially been brought back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe fold (both will return in Echo and Daredevil: Born Again), but Finn Jones, who played Iron Fist, would “love another chance” at tackling the role.

Along with leading the Iron Fist series, Finn Jones also appeared in The Defenders miniseries and an episode of Luke Cage. It’s not secret that Iron Fist wasn’t as beloved as the other Marvel Netflix shows, but while speaking with the Geekscape podcast, Jones talked about how he wants another shot at Danny Rand so he can deliver the version of the character that fans want to see. When he was asked if he’d be interested in another chance at Iron Fist, the actor responded:

Debuting on March 17, 2017, Iron Fist Season 1 was met with primary negative critical reception, with some of the common complaints including Finn Jones’ performance and the quality of the fight scenes. Iron Fist Season 2 followed on September 7, 2018 and was met with more mixed reception, but despite ending on a cliffhanger, Netflix cancelled the show the following October, with the other Marvel Netflix shows ultimately meeting the same fate (those can now be streamed with a Disney+ subscription). Four years later, Danny Rand still means a lot to Finn Jones, and if given the opportunity, he’d show those who didn’t like his previous Iron Fist outings that he can bring to life a version of the character who better resembles his comic book counterpart.

At this point, not only is there no indication that Finn Jones is under consideration to be brought back as Danny Rand, we don’t know if any version of Danny will appear in the MCU. However, if Jones did return to the role, the actor also mentioned he’d not only like to see Danny Rand and Mike Colter’s Luke Cage re-team in a Heroes for Hire series, but also for Jessica Henwick to come back as Colleen Wing. When we left off with Colleen in the Iron Fist Season 2 finale, she now held the power of the Iron Fist, and Jones suggested that she could resurface with those same abilities in a Shang-Chi sequel. Funny enough, Henwick isn’t necessarily on board something like that.

Rest assured that if Marvel Studios announces that Iron Fist will appear in one of the upcoming Marvel movies or upcoming Marvel TV shows, whether he’s played by Finn Jones or another actor, we’ll let you know. Keep in mind, though, that these days in the comics, Lin Lie is serving as the main Iron Fist, so it’s possible he may be used in the MCU instead of Danny Rand, although rather than leave him out altogether, you could still loop him in as Lie’s mentor. 

Disney+ has been home to most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but there have been a few TV shows that the streaming service hasn’t been able to scoop up. That is, until now - since series like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D  and The Defenders have finally arrived on the platform. With this, stars like Ming-Na Wen, Clark Gregg, and Finn Jones are celebrating their long-awaited homecoming. 

Ming-Na Wen recently took to social media to announce the arrival of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D  arriving on Disney+. Check out her Instagram post: 

The actress' post features a screenshot of the homepage for Disney+, where a banner for S.H.I.E.L.D  is on full display. On the fan-favorite show, she played Melinda May, a.k.a The Cavalry, a badass weapons expert and pilot who was later revealed to have a tragic backstory. In the closing moments of the show, she was revealed to have become a teacher at the aptly named Coulson Academy. 

Meanwhile, her former co-star, Clark Gregg (otherwise known as veteran agent and Avengers ally Phil Coulson), celebrated the show's digital move by sharing a charming photo album filled with behind-the-scenes snapshots. Take a look below: 

His pics include shots with Samuel L. Jackson, Patton Oswalt, and even the late comics legend Stan Lee. Clark Gregg began his tenure in the MCU as Nick Fury’s right-hand man in Iron Man, but his character got an upgrade when he became the lead of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Finn Jones of Iron Fist kept the party going with a social media shoutout. He let all of his fans know that the Marvel shows were officially online: 

Another former Netflix alum to chime in on the news was Daredevil alum Deborah Ann Woll. The actress shared a brief but exciting reaction on her Instagram:

Other Marvel stars to share the news included Krysten Ritter of Jessica Jones, who reacted with a nice post of her own. You can see what the star had to say on her own social media down below:

Among those who also weighed in on the news is Ming-Na Wen and Clark Gregg’s co-star, Elizabeth Henstridge. Like her colleagues, her reaction to the Disney+ move was one of pure delight.

The full list of Marvel shows that are now on Disney+ includes Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, The Defenders, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, The Punisher and Daredevil. Nearly all of the programs began their tenure as Netflix originals before being transferred to their new streaming. With this, they were unavailable to he House of Mouse when it launched its own streaming service back in 2019. The wait was long, but, for Marvel fans who are ready to have all of their favorites in one place, it's sure to be worth it. 

If you're hoping to stream all of this MCU-related fare and more, you'll want to grab a Disney+ subscription. You can also check out the best shows to watch now on Disney+ or sneak a peek at the next round of upcoming Marvel movies coming out in 2022. 

To cap off its Season 9 winter finale last year, The Walking Dead delivered a major "holy shit" moment when the character Jesus went the way of the dodo bird thanks to the show's new villains. Alas, the British actor hasn't been left jobless for long, as he has joined the new Fox pilot Prodigal Son. The most surprising part? Payne is replacing former Iron Fist lead Finn Jones, who was just cast last week.

Tom Payne is taking over the lead role of Malcolm Bright on Prodigal Son, which recently went through its first table read with the cast and crew. According to Deadline, it was indeed that read-through that sparked the producers' decision to recast the role of Malcolm Bright, as it was agreed that Finn Jones wasn't the proper fit.

Nothing beyond a general note of "creative differences" was stated for Finn Jones' exit, but that doesn't mean anything juicy or scandalous caused the switch. Pilot table reads are generally the first chance the creative team has to see how well-matched cast members are for their roles. It's not out of the ordinary for stars to get dropped in such cases, and here, Jones was only hired the day before the read happened, which isn't the most ideal scenario for anyone involved.

Ultimately, Prodigal Son's producers reached back out to Tom Payne, who had reportedly tested for the role previously. Payne will be joining such talented cast members as Michael Sheen, who will soon shake things up on The Good Fight, and Bellamy Young of Scandal fame.

As Malcolm Bright, Tom Payne will be playing a criminal psychologist whose giftedness and brilliance are second to none, and for good reason. You see, he was raised by one of the country's most notorious criminals, Michael Sheen's Martin Whitly, the serial killer dubbed "The Surgeon." Despite that moral and professional boundary, the father will still attempt to forge a meaningful relationship with his son.

Beyond the killer dad, Malcolm has a host of other issues keeping his mind busy. For one, he's got a manipulative mother, played by Bellamy Young, and a sister whose abject mediocrity is a bit of a family nuisance. Not to mention the ever-expanding neuroses within Malcolm's own head.

Prodigal Son won't be maddeningly self-serious, thankfully, and Tom Payne will hopefully get to show off more of his dark comedic chops should the pilot get ordered to series at Fox. Malcolm will be something of a self-deprecating character as well, which will be quite different from Payne's forever-earnest Walking Dead role.

Back when CinemaBlend spoke with Tom Payne ahead of his big Walking Dead exit, the actor told me he wasn't all that bothered by getting killed off in the long run. In his words:

While it may not have been THE most justifiable death in The Walking Dead's many seasons, it was nonetheless an important one, and it has now allowed Tom Payne to potentially make his way to primetime network TV. Before the AMC zombie drama, Payne's biggest U.S. TV role was for HBO's Luck, but Prodigal Son could turn him into even more of a mainstream star.

Prodigal Son comes from Chuck co-creator Chris Fedak and Blunt Talk writer/producer Sam Sklaver; the pair worked together on Fedak's short-lived magician-helping-the-cops drama Deception. If this new project features the same kind of instant-hook magic that Chuck had back in 2007, Fox could give Prodigal Son a quick greenlight.

For now, we'll be waiting to hear whether or not Prodigal Son will be an entry in the next fall or midseason TV schedule. And Finn Jones will continue looking for his next big TV show to follow Iron Fist's untimely cancellation at Netflix.

It has been a while since Netflix cancelled Iron Fist in October, what with the four other NYC superhero shows getting axed in the meantime. Now, the time has come for the series’ star Finn Jones to board his first TV project following the end of the Marvel series. The actor will lead the pilot for a new crime drama on Fox, and it sounds intriguing.

Finn Jones has signed on to star as the central protagonist of Prodigal Son. The role is a multi-dimensional one that offers a lot for Jones to play. He will star as the uniquely gifted Malcolm Bright, and no, he does not have superpowers. Scratch that, he kind of does.

Malcolm is considered the best criminal psychologist in existence, according to Deadline. That is due in large part to his possession of a crucial ability: he knows exactly how the mind of a killer works. and (accordingly) how they think. His intimate knowledge of such things is due in no small part to his father, Martin Whitly, being a notoriously malicious serial killer that operated under the moniker of “The Surgeon.”

Finn Jones will co-star alongside some well-known talent, with Masters of Sex vet Michael Sheen set to play Malcolm's serial killer father. Despite his crimes, Sheen’s Martin still wants to forge a bond with his son. Sheen, who is soon set to star in Neil Gaiman's Good Omens TV series, is a casting choice that supplies Prodigal Son with further acting prowess.

The apple fell far enough from the tree here, though, as Malcolm uses his keen abilities to do good as a forensic profiler. He works with the NYPD to solve crimes and put an end to various killers’ reigns of terror. Malcolm is said to have a “twisted genius” and “razor-sharp instincts.”

Could Malcolm use his father’s insights along with his own to catch the worst of the worst killers? It seems like an angle the show would want to leverage. Either way, the father and son’s relationship should play heavily into the show's mythos.

Scandal’s Bellamy Young was tapped to play Malcolm’s mother. The report assesses her using the foreboding term of “manipulative,” so Malcolm better watch out. Okay, he probably already is, since you do not get to be a renowned criminal psychologist without a keen ability to read people, especially your family.

Malcolm is not an only child, either. Rounding out his immediate family tree is his sister, who is apparently "normal" in comparison. Sibling bonds are an underrated asset to series, so again Prodigal Son has room to succeed here.

On top of all of that, Malcolm is also dealing with his own ever-evolving neuroses, since having high intelligence doesn't necessarily mean he's without his own mental wounds. All told, Malcolm presents with the makings of a rather intriguing lead character, and Finn Jones has no shortage of developmental aspects to play around with. with this character.

The series itself is summed up as having a darkly comic tonality, which could put Prodigal Son on different footing than the overly serious Iron Fist. In many ways, Finn Jones will continue playing a strong-willed character with special abilities and a doomed family, so it will not a complete departure from Danny Rand.

Along with the aforementioned actors, Lou Diamond Phillips, Aurora Perrineau, and Frank Harts have also signed on to star. Prodigal Son was written by Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver who will be executive producing along with Arrow-verse producer extraordinaire, Greg Berlanti. Time will tell if Prodigal Son gets picked up to series.

With both Finn Jones and Luke Cage’s Mike Colter moving on to new projects things are changing. Hopes that the actors will reprise their roles from the Marvel series appear to be dwindling. Both actors’ shows are only in the pilot stages, though, so it'll take some more time to see how things shake out.

Still, want to check out Finn Jones on Iron Fist? You can. The series is currently streaming in its entirety on Netflix. There are also a lot of new shows during the midseason.

Iron Fist just received a major blow. Netflix has announced that it will not be renewing the Marvel series for a third season. Relatively fresh off the reveal, actor Finn Jones, who portrayed Danny Rand, a.k.a. Iron Fist, on the show has reacted to the news. Jones took to Instagram to unleash his sentiments surrounding the cancellation. Check out what he had to say:

It sounds as though he is taking it in stride. The Game of Thrones alum showed a great deal of gratitude in his Instagram post as well. Whether his time playing the Iron Fist is actually over remains to be seen. While the character's solo series has been cancelled, he could reemerge elsewhere. That said, whether Finn Jones would play him again is, of course, unknown, at this point. Disney reportedly wants to bring the character back for content on its streaming service.

The decision to end the series has come as quite a surprise. Premiering in the spring of 2017, Netflix renewed it for a second season later that summer. The move to cancel the show comes a little over a month since Season 2 bowed on the streaming service in early September. Finn Jones not only starred as Iron Fist on his own Netflix series, he reprised the role in The Defenders and during the second season of Luke Cage.

Only time will tell whether Finn Jones will pop up as the character in one of the other Marvel shows. Iron Fist's official Twitter account said that the "story is never over." Given the existence of the twist that ended the series' run, fans definitely want a follow-up or closure of some sort.

Iron Fist is the first Marvel series on Netflix to be officially cancelled, so the move is definitely high profile. Now, the show will go down in the record books, just not as it likely would have hoped.

For Finn Jones, this marks the latest chapter in a career that has seen him star in two of the most significant television entities in the last decade. He starred as Loras Tyrell on Game of Thrones for multiple seasons. Jones left the series due to a story-dictated exit that took place as part of the show's explosive Season 6 finale. The following year, he made his debut as the lead on Iron Fist.

So, Finn Jones went from starring on one pop culture juggernaut to taking part in another, the Netflix side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Time will tell where Jones ends up next. Having appeared in a Netflix series already, he could just as well turn up on another. As for Marvel's other Netflix series, they will go on. The third installment of Daredevil premieres October 19 on Netflix, and the superhero series will not be the only new content arriving on the streaming giant this fall.

These days, Finn Jones is far more concerned with what's happening in the Marvel universe than on his former show Game of Thrones, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a theory about how it will all end on the HBO fantasy epic. The Iron Fist star recently shared his thoughts about Game of Thrones' final hour and, of course, death is involved. Here's how he put it.

Finn Jones gave the short version of what his Iron Fist co-star and former Game of Thrones actress Jessica Henwick assured People is a much longer theory. Jones' speculation speaks to the massive war and fight with the White Walkers getting resolved before humanity is vanquished, and that the kingdoms will be evenly dispersed among the worthy rules into an altered form of democracy. Which would be a strange concept indeed for the surviving Lannisters to contend with.

Then, Finn Jones went on to explain that his "everyone wins" scenario is a little too optimistic for the often dour series, so something will probably happen that results in "everyone" dying. Jones' end part of the theory seems far more plausible, especially with GoT's stance on allowing people to live long lives, but is he anywhere near correct with the rest of his theory?

No one but the cast and crew can say for sure, of course, although Finn Jones is really banking on Game of Thrones Season 8 covering a lot of ground in its shortened season. Outside of events getting explained away in an opening crawl, it seems highly improbable the Night King and White Walkers will be disposed of quickly enough to allow for follow-up episodes that establish a post-war democracy that eventually devolves into chaos. That's especially true given we already know Cersei Lannister intends to double cross Dany and Jon during the war effort, which could drag out the great war much longer than if she played nice and actually helped defeat the White Walkers.

Finn Jones and Jessica Henwick may possibly know something the general public doesn't due to their time on Game of Thrones, although it's more likely the Iron Fist actors are as just as in the dark as everyone else. Of the two, Henwick is the one to have worked on the show most recently, which almost didn't get to happen due to Iron Fist's production. Jones, of course, had his character Loras Tyrell killed off in Season 6, so perhaps that's led to his headspace that everyone else should either be in peace or die off. Jones was initially a bit flippant about the question when it was posed to them, and only after some prodding revealed his theory. Check it out in the video below.

Game of Thrones is set to return to HBO for Season 8 sometime in 2019. For a look at upcoming television scheduled to arrive well before that, head on over to our fall premiere guide.

Marvel Studios has had a number of successes since the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in 2008, and their run of Netflix shows is no exception. It began with them launching the best live-action interpretation of Daredevil we've seen, and then critical acclaim for the first adaptation of Jessica Jones. The streak very much continued with Luke Cage in Fall 2016, and we couldn't be more excited to see the bulletproof hero back in action for a second season.

Luke Cage Season 2 is admittedly one of many balls that Marvel Studios is currently juggling, but, like many of you, we're hungry for details. What can we expect in terms of story? How will it fit into the world post-Defenders? What characters can we expect to return, and who will be introduced? To keep track of all the answers to those questions and more, we've put together this handy What We Know So Far guide. Read on and learn a bit about the sophomore season of Luke Cage!

What Have We Seen From Luke Cage Season 2?

Luckily, we've finally been treated to the first full trailer from Season 2 of Luke Cage, and it's got everything we could have hoped for. We've gotten a look at Bushmaster (a new villain for the upcoming season), Misty's shiny new bionic arm, badass fights, fire and a lot of poor, innocent hoodies getting destroyed left and right.

Luke Cage (Mike Colter)

Even after his introduction to audiences in the first season of Jessica Jones, Luke Cage remained mostly a mystery as he entered his own solo series -- and a whole lot of interesting information was revealed about his history in those 13 episodes. We not only saw his superhero origin story play itself out -- with Carl Lucas undergoing experiments in prison that would make his skin impenetrable -- but we even learned about his upbringing in Atlanta and some uncovered dark secrets about his reverend father and family.

Of course, that doesn't mean that the lid has been fully pulled off on Luke Cage, and there is plenty more for us to learn about the character and where he's been (for example, we still don't know anything about the frame-up that landed him in prison in the first place). And, in the aftermath of The Defenders, Luke Cage will be a full blown Harlem-based hero with quite the fan club on his side.

Returning to the part of Luke Cage will be Mike Colter, who has become a favorite amongst devotees. Prior to joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he had significant roles on shows like The Following and The Good Wife, but he has now become fully associated with his superhero role, and fans are excited to see him back in the part.

The Showrunner

Taking the reins of Luke Cage, television veteran Cheo Hodari Coker was given the opportunity to leave a very individualistic stamp on what a superhero show could be -- and he very much did that. The music used in each episode is as influential as the work that James Gunn did on Guardians of the Galaxy, and the stories explore new and different avenues that we've not seen before in the genre. And, from the trailer, it looks like we'll be treated to more awesome music, along with cool storylines and villains. This is likely due in no small part to the fact that Coker will be back to steer the bulletproof ship in Season 2.

When Marvel and Netflix announced that we would be getting a Luke Cage Season 2, it came as a video that merely noted that another set of episodes would be "coming soon." While it took a while for the show to confirm that the main players in front of and behind the camera would be back on board for the new season, response to Season 1 was so positive (overall) that it was always hard to imagine that anyone would be replaced. Aside from the controversial decision to kill off Cottonmouth Stokes half way through the season, people loved what Coker and his team did with the characters. As such, it's great that Coker is, once again, in charge.

The Story

In Season 1 of Luke Cage, audiences watched as the titular hero set up roots in Harlem, tried to stop the corruption taking it over, and had an epic personal spat with his half-brother. As for what we'll see in Season 2... we really don't know. From the recently released trailer we can gather that Luke is the big man around Harlem these days, with scores of people admiring him publicly. We also see that Mariah Dillard, who was able to turn some of New York's most influential people against the bulletproof hero, is back and up to no good. And, while Diamondback is in custody instead of dead, and it's entirely possible that he could make a comeback, the bigger threat seems to be new villain Bushmaster, who's a bit bulletproof himself.

While we'll get more into it later in this feature, one presence who could certainly shake things up post-Defenders is Danny Rand a.k.a. Iron Fist. In the comics, Luke Cage and the Kung Fu hero are not only best friends, but co-owners of a Heroes For Hire business -- which is something that is hinted at by Bobby Fish (Ron Cephas Jones) in Luke Cage Season 1. After the two men met in Defenders, it sounds like they continue to hang out in Luke Cage Season 2. Mike Colter has confirmed that we will get at least a taste of the Heroes for Hire dynamic with the new friends, which is something fans have been looking forward to.

Misty Knight (Simone Missick)

Misty Knight has persisted as one of the most badass heroes in the Marvel universe, and that tradition was continued by Simone Missick in the making of Luke Cage Season 1. Portrayed as a hard-working detective in Harlem, she proved herself a key asset for the show's titular character and for justice in her district of New York. And, the trailer fully confirms that she'll be back in Luke Cage Season 2.

So, what will Misty Knight be up to in the second season of the superhero show? There were a whole lot of people who wanted to see her lose her right arm, and, they got their wish at the end of The Defenders. In the comics, the character is famously outfitted with a bionic limb courtesy of Tony Stark after she loses her arm in the line of duty. This was teased in a big way during Season 1, but The Defenders finally gave people what they wanted when Misty lost her arm in a fight with a katana-wielding member of The Hand. Maybe her new super-limb will help her take on an old high school rival who ends up taking over her job at the precinct. We'll have to wait and see.

Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard)

Luke Cage faced down three very different kinds of villains in the first season of his own show. Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes (Mahershala Ali) was a crime lord -- using his connections in politics and crime to flood the streets of Harlem with drugs and weapons. Then there was Diamondback -- a psychotic killer with a personal vendetta. The third was Alfre Woodard's Mariah Dillard -- who used her influence and power to turn the world against the eponymous hero. While Luke was able to outlive Cottonmouth and defeat Diamondback, it was Dillard who wound up claiming victory by the time the 13th episode was over, not only getting away with murder, but watching as Luke was taken back to prison.

Right now, we can't say for certain where we will find Mariah Dillard in Luke Cage Season 2, but we're going to make a leap and all but guarantee that she will have a dangerous role to play. Given her big win in Season 1, it's not hard to imagine Luke Cage returning to Harlem and doing everything he can to make sure she is taken down and thrown in prison. Of course, we expect that this narrative will be combined with some fresh threads that will be pulled over the course of the season.

Shades Alvarez (Theo Rossi)

Mariah Dillard most notably carved a path towards victory in Luke Cage Season 1, but a lot of credit is due to Theo Rossi's Shades Alvarez for successfully reading the tea leaves. While he initially was just an agent for Diamondback sent to keep an eye on Cottonmouth, he got a very strong whiff of the way the tide was turning after Mariah killed her cousin, and established his real alliances. Expect Shades to still be attached to her at the hip during Season 2.

Shades is definitely a character who we want to see more from in the second season of Luke Cage. Throughout the first 13 episodes, he played a Littlefinger-esque role in manipulating the various chess pieces on the board, but we never really got to see him really go for the brass ring. He hit a low point when he got his ass kicked by Claire Temple and Misty Knight before being carted off to jail, but he's back on the streets at the end of Season 1, and it will be interesting to see what damage he can do with Mariah Dillard backing his every move.

Diamondback (Erik LaRay Harvey)

Erik LaRay Harvey's Willis Stryker a.k.a. Diamondback caused quite a bit of chaos in Luke Cage Season 1, not only introducing a weapon that can legitimately kill the hero, but also executing a plan for vengeance that he had been planning for years. Unfortunately for him, his specially-designed armor wasn't enough to defeat the bulletproof hero, and he was taken away by the police to be thrown in prison.

Diamondback may be locked up, but there's every chance that he could still wind up having a massive influence and presence in Luke Cage Season 2 (just look at what Daredevil did with Kingpin). We still want to know the details of how he managed to get Luke Cage thrown into prison in the first place. He probably won't be front and center in Luke Cage Season 2, but we still fully expect Diamondback to make some kind of appearance in an episode or two.

Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson)

To date, Rosario Dawson's Claire Temple has been the glue that has kept all of the Marvel Netflix shows together, and her role in Luke Cage Season 1 was her biggest since Daredevil Season 1. On the 2016 show, Temple not only saved Cage's life, but the two of them also started a romantic relationship, and this appears to still be going strong by the time the new season rolls around. But, what else should we expect from her in Luke Cage Season 2?

The most recent trailer for Luke Cage Season 2 doesn't give us much in the way of Claire's storyline beyond her being fully on her bulletproof boyfriend's side, but it's hard to imagine that Rosario Dawson isn't given a part to play in the story that's bigger than that on the next season of the show. Regardless of what happens on the romantic side, it's always a good thing to have a medic around when Luke Cage is doing his hero business. And, we know that Claire has never been afraid to get her hands dirty when she feels like an injustice is being done, so she'll likely get in on the action in her own right..

Bushmaster (Mustafa Shakir)

Luke Cage came up against a powerful physical opponent in Season 1 and the new season will be no different. This time around, he'll have to deal with John McIver, a.k.a. Bushmaster, who's looking for vengeance against those who've done bad things to (and in) Harlem, and, as you might expect, even though his goal sounds worthy, he's not going to be gentle. In the comics, Bushmaster was a crime boss who had gone through the same experiments as Luke Cage, and from what we see of him stopping bullets with his chest in the trailer, he certainly seems to be similarly powered as the superhero. We also see that Bushmaster can really give Luke an unexpected beat down, so watching these two battle it out is sure to be intense.

Tilda Johnson (Gabrielle Dennis)

Unfortunately for Luke, even though Tilda is a holistic physician from Harlem, she may not be on his side for much, if any, of the new season. In the comics, this scientific genius always managed to have trouble find her, and eventually became a crime lord using the name Nightshade. In more recent years, the character has found her calling as a hero, now going by the name of Nighthawk, but it's unlikely we'll see the character come full circle in just one season. Right now, we haven't been given any details of how she'll fit into Season 2, so we'll have to wait and see.

Rosalie Carbone (Annabella Sciorra)

Season 2 is throwing yet another bad guy at Luke Cage, and this one sounds like someone who could give Mariah Dillard a big run for her money. Rosalie Carbone is being described as a "dangerous downtown criminal underworld power player" who's got some major plans for Harlem, and we can only assume that those plans will put Luke (and possibly the rest of Harlem) on high alert. In the comics, Rosalie took over her crime family after the death of her dad and when her uncle went missing, so this villain (who typically vexes The Punisher) is definitely well-connected and poised to do a lot of harm if Luke can't stop her plans.

The Marvel universe on Netflix has been getting bigger and bolder over the years since Daredevil premiered back in 2015. In addition to Daredevil, we have Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and soon, The Defenders, which will unite the heroes to fight a common enemy in New York City. The new series promises a team-up unlike anything we've seen so far, and actor Finn Jones has promised that the Netflix corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe won't be the same after all is said and done in The Defenders. Jones, who plays Danny Rand/Iron Fist, teased this about what's to come:

It sounds like the Marvel Netflix shows are following the model of the larger MCU, which has been releasing movies in phases since way back in 2008. Phase 1 of the movies consists of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avengers, and the team-up adventure that was The Avengers between 2008-2012. The timeframe from the Netflix series is significantly smaller, as Daredevil debuted in April 2015 and The Defenders is set to hit the web on August 2017. Finn Jones' comments to Digital Spy indicate that just as the Avengers were changed by the events of The Avengers, the Defenders will be changed by the events of The Defenders.

For the sake of our heroes, I hope Phase 2 of the Netflix shows doesn't follow the pattern of the MCU's Phase 2 exactly, given that Phase 2 started with a traumatized Tony Stark in Iron Man 3, revealed a S.H.I.E.L.D. that had been infiltrated by Hydra in Captain America: The Civil War, and unleashed Ultron on the world in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Fortunately, we do have some details about Phase 2 on Netflix.

The next phase will kick off later this year with the first season of The Punisher, which will showcase Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in a solo series, after he made his unforgettable first appearance in Daredevil Season 2. Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist have all been renewed as well, so we'll see more of them after The Defenders. Claire Temple will probably find herself interacting with the heroes yet again in Phase 2 as well, because poor Claire just can't catch a break from all the super-weirdness New York City has to offer.

We'll have to wait and see if The Defenders is as much of a hit for the small screen as The Avengers was on the big screen. Luckily, we don't have too much longer to wait. The Defenders will become available for our streaming pleasure on Friday, August 18 at 12:01 a.m. PT on Netflix. If you need a crash course on what's to come, our breakdown of what we know so far about The Defenders can help you out. Check out our 2017 Netflix guide for what you can watch once you've made your way through Marvel's latest TV venture.

Given the close relationship between Luke Cage and Iron Fist on the pages of Marvel Comics, their tag-teaming interactions are one of the most anticipated elements of the upcoming The Defenders, where the two characters are played by actors Mike Colter and Finn Jones. But if you're expecting the two superheroes to immediately be totally buddy-buddy when they first meet in the series, the reality is that you're dead wrong. In fact, the earliest interactions between the two feature the Harlem hero legitimately putting the rich boy with the glowing hand in his place. As Jones recently put it,

Most of the stars of The Defenders and co-showrunner Marco Ramirez participated in roundtable interviews at San Diego Comic-Con last week, and it was while sitting down with Finn Jones and Mike Colter that I had the opportunity to ask them about their characters' first meet-up. Having seen four episodes of the new show, I asked them specifically about the dynamic between Luke Cage and Iron Fist when they initially converse, and Jones noted that Danny Rand very quickly figures out that he has a lot to learn from his soon-to-be teammate.

Continuing Finn Jones' sentiments, Mike Colter explained that a big reason behind their differing philosophies is simple experience. As we saw in Luke Cage Season 1, the unbreakable hero has gone through a whole lot in his life as a superhero, and it has provided him an important context when he goes about fighting evil. What he has seen and what he can do very much define his actions, and it's something that he immediately finds himself explaining to Danny Rand when they start to talk. Said Colter,

Taking things a step further, Mike Colter also noted that Luke Cage and Iron Fist are used to fighting very different enemies prior to The Defenders. While the latter's primary opponents are deadly ninjas who are trained to kill, many of the criminals that the former has dealt with are individuals without options and merely exist as bottom rungs on the ladder. (Catch some of that fighting in the newly released trailer from Comic-Con.)

Thankfully, The Defenders do care about going after the top of the crime food chain, and as such the series will find Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Daredevil and Jessica Jones going head-to-head with Sigourney Weaver's Alexandra Reid. And it won't be long until audiences get to see this showdown for themselves, as the brand new Marvel Netflix series will be going online Friday, August 18th. Check out what Charlie Cox had to say about Matt Murdock's wariness to keep his Daredevil persona going, and then head to our summer premiere schedule to see what's hitting the small screen in the meantime.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is largely known for its silver screen adventures, there's also a fair amount of TV programming coming from the studio, the best of which are streaming on Netflix. And with Iron Fist functioning as the final NYC hero, the fandom is looking forward to the Defenders miniseries uniting the motley crew in August. And now Iron Fist himself, Game of Thrones alum Finn Jones, has teased what to expect from the kung fu expert when he returns to our TV's, phones, and computers.

Iron Fist came and went with Danny Rand still getting used to his role as the living weapon, as well as returning to the world after growing up in K'un Lun. And according to Finn Jones, The Defenders will help shape him into the hero we're waiting for.

Finn Jones statement at Comicpalooza 2017 (via HHWLOD), give us a pretty clear picture of Iron Fist's narrative in The Defenders. And it sounds like exactly what the fandom has been calling for.

One of the common criticisms of Netflix's Iron Fist was how largely non superheroic Danny Rand was. While his skill in battle was present throughout the show, he rarely used his powers as the Iron Fist. In fact, he's not sure exactly how to use his abilities. But being among seasoned fighters and heroes like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage will surely have a positive affect on Danny. He'll be able to see how being a superpowered vigilante works, and realize he's not quite as alone as he thought.

Anticipation for The Defenders is at an all time high, as the miniseries is only a few months away. This type of massive crossover event is a major payoff for Netflix subscribers who have followed all four MCU shows over the years. All of the world building and character development come to a boiling point, as all four heroes and their various allies will team up to battle Sigourney Weaver's mysterious villain. The first trailer was full of exciting action sequences, so it's safe to say that nerdgasms are in the near future.

The Defenders will assemble to protect New York on August 18th. Be sure to check our summer premiere list, and don't miss your favorite show's return!

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for the Marvel Netflix series Iron Fist. If you have not yet finished watching the first season of the show, please bookmark this page and save it for later!

While Iron Fist has spent many years as a popular superhero in Marvel Comics, his step into the bigger pop culture world hasn't exactly gone well. The new series has not only gotten far worse reviews than any of Marvel's previous Netflix shows, but has also gotten a worse response than any Marvel Studios title released in the company's nine-year history. As a result, there are definitely some key problems that need to be solved... but these issues luckily come with fairly simple and straightforward solutions.

So what does Marvel Studios have to do to redeem Iron Fist and fix the problem that they have created for themselves? Below and beyond, we've outlined some particular strategies that we hope to see the company utilizing, both involving Danny Rand's role in the upcoming Defenders crossover show and everything after. Read on, and be sure to hit the comments section below with your own thoughts!

Make Iron Fist Actually Stand Out Among The Defenders

With Iron Fist being an underwhelming show all by itself, it definitely doesn't help that the rest of the Marvel Netflix franchise. Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage all got nearly perfect reviews coming out the gate, since that just tips the scales even harder when it comes to direct comparisons. The good news is that the perfect opportunity to level the playing field in this department is coming up in the form of The Defenders, and we can only hope that the creatives take advantage to give Danny/Iron Fist a more distinct platform.

Because The Defenders is already deep into production, we can only hope that the writers started working on the series acknowledging that Iron Fist isn't the brightest bulb in the Marvel Studios chandelier. Why? Because if there is a particular focus to make him look cool on the team-up show, then there's a chance that the character's pop culture status could be redeemed after a rocky start. It's kind of silly, but whether Danny is the one who comes up with the brilliant strategies, or winds up saving everyone with his impressive display of powers, Iron Fist has the chance to look much cooler if he is utilized properly among his superhero friends.

Give Iron Fist His Proper Costume

The fact that Danny Rand isn't given the proper Iron Fist costume is absolutely ludicrous, as he is actually one of the only characters in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe who has a completely understandable and logical reason for wearing a very specific outfit and mask. Iron Fist as a series could have easily explained that the classic comic book look comes part and parcel with the title and abilities, and yet no one even bothered with it. It's not too late to fix this.

By not featuring some form of the classic costume in the first season of the show (unlike every other Marvel Netflix series), Iron Fist sends the message that it is embarrassed by the original design -- and while we'll agree that it surely isn't the easiest superhero get-up to adapt, it's still a modest insult to fans to not even try and bring it in. Lord knows there are thousands of great looking cosplay images out there that the producers and costume designers can use for live-action inspiration. And while it's true that the ship has now sailed on the uniform idea for the standalone show, hopefully The Defenders will figure out a smart reason for its inclusion; perhaps Matt Murdock can introduce Danny Rand to Melvin Potter in an early episode.

Show Us K'un L'un

As I noted in my Iron Fist review, the show seems completely allergic to the city of K'un L'un, despite the fact that the mythical city should be a dream project for any passionate production designer - and when the credits rolled on the 13 episode, the first thing that struck me was just how little we get to see of the magical city. One can imagine The CW's Arrow causing the writers to hesitate over any kind of flashback-heavy narrative, but the fact that audiences get nothing more than a few incredibly brief looks at K'un L'un, in 13 hours of content, is mind-boggling.

I'm admittedly concerned that this situation is a result of a "robbing Peter to pay Paul," with the Marvel Netflix producers "saving" K'un L'un for appearance in The Defenders. If that's the case, that's pretty crappy franchise-building because of how it truly handicaps Iron Fist's solo narrative. That being said, the way to have people get over it is by making the Capital City of Heaven as jaw-dropping as possible in its beauty and expanse, not to mention compellingly used within the larger plot (such as, perhaps, a full scale invasion of The Hand). And please, everyone involved, find some way to inject some kind of kung-fu filmmaking and editing influence into any and all K'un L'un sequences, because it's sad that aesthetic wasn't also part of the Iron Fist playbook from the start.

Bring Danny To Luke Cage Season 2, Not Iron Fist Season 2

In the comics, Luke Cage and Iron Fist go together like peanut butter and jelly. They are the best of friends, and have operated as a pair going back to the late 1970s, when they first met on the page. As such, we fully expect that The Defenders will play up this relationship, and that there are going to be at least a few episodes that have Mike Colter and Finn Jones pairing up. We still look forward to this, of course, but it's not quite enough. The real move that Marvel and Netflix should make is abandoning any and all ideas for Iron Fist Season 2 to instead write him in as a supporting character on the second season on Luke Cage.

The way things play out in The Defenders might ultimately change certain things, but the franchise has a fairly straightforward path it could take in this direction. After Luke Cage and Danny Rand become buddy-buddy post-Defenders, they decide it's in their mutual interest to go into business together. As a result, the location in Harlem that used to be Pop's Barbershop gets transformed into the headquarters for Heroes For Hire, the comic book private eye firm that has vigilantes get paid for their good deeds. Luke Cage and his experiences in Harlem are still at the forefront of the story, while Iron Fist doesn't get totally abandoned. (Though the Meachums are.)

*Give Colleen Wing A Spinoff With Misty Knight *

The biggest issue with not making an Iron Fist Season 2 would be the potential disappearance of Jessica Henwick's Colleen Wing from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The good news is that there is another straightforward direction to go here, and that's to let her star in her very own series. Much like how Jon Bernthal's The Punisher is now getting a show thanks to Daredevil Season 2, the adventures of Colleen Wing could continue in Daughters Of The Dragon, a show that would team her up with Simone Missick's Misty Knight from Luke Cage.

Like Luke Cage and Iron Fist, the friendship between Colleen Wing and Misty Knight has decades of history, and it would be wonderful to see their dynamic explored as they team up for their own kind of New York style crime-fighting. It might be too much to set up Knightwing Restorations Inc., as having that compete with Heroes For Hire and Jessica Jones' Alias Investigations might be too much for the small screen franchise -- but there's truly an infinite number of adventures you could send the characters on that would stand out from the bunch. Plus the stories could have a special narrative element by specifically weaving in and out of the aforementioned goings-on in Luke Cage Season 2.

For now, we'll just be waiting to see what the folks at Marvel will do next with Iron Fist and the rest. The Defenders is set to hit Netflix at some point in the future, and you can head to our Netflix 2017 schedule, as well as our midseason guide and our summer TV schedule, to see everything coming to your TVs in the near future.

Netflix's Iron Fist is a superhero show, yes, but it's a bit different from the rest of the Marvel streaming fold. Danny Rand's inherent kung-fu ability is a key part of the character, so the series does a lot of kung-fu action sequences that require skill and precision to look convincing. Considering how important those scenes were, you might be shocked to learn that actor Finn Jones says those scenes were extremely rushed more often than not due to a tight schedule:

That sounds stressful, in addition to hard to pull off! The rushed sequences might be the cause for critics and fans pointing out that while Danny Rand's kung-fu is not laughably terrible, it's certainly not on the level of fighting that Daredevil or Jessica Jones featured in its shows. For a superhero that's supposed to be so highly skilled in the art, he certainly wasn't blowing my mind with any Ip-Man style fighting. While some of that is linked to differences in heroes and fight styles, time is sounding like it played a key role as well.

As Jones tells Metro, the filming for Iron Fist was on a very tight schedule. This is presumably due to Marvel shooting The Defenders right after. In fact, various sources point to Iron Fist wrapping production in early October 2016, with The Defenders beginning shooting in November. Considering Finn Jones would be needed for both shows, Iron Fist kind of got the short end of the stick on production time when compared to the previous entry Luke Cage, which had wrapped in March of that same year. Jones dives more into the time crunch for filming in the statement below:

That's a lot of work Finn Jones had to put in to sell those fight scenes in Iron Fist. The only other Marvel Netflix series to really offer that same level of hand-to-hand combat was Daredevil, and Charlie Cox had the luxury of having seasoned stuntman Chris Brewster (who also does stunt work for Chris Evans' Captain America) put on the mask for a bulk of his battles. I'm not taking anything away from the prep these guys have to physically endure to play these roles, mind you, but it's worth noting that Finn Jones is prominently featured and you know it's him in his fight scenes. You have to wonder how much more effective these scenes would've looked had the show had lengthy film shoot and post-production prior to the filming of The Defenders. Reshoots aren't always terrible.

Would more time on set have helped the Iron Fist be better received by critics? That's hard to say definitively, as there's a laundry list of issues the series has come under fire for following its release that have nothing to do with fisticuffs. If nothing else, it would've allowed Finn Jones more time to work on his kung-fu, and that could only have made things better. If you haven't watched yet, Iron Fist is currently streaming on Netflix, but if you're over that, you can check out our midseason premiere guide and summer TV guide to pick up a new show as we head into the coming months.

As most Marvel fans already know, Iron Fist debuts on Netflix today. Despite the fact that the show hasn't received the warmest welcome from critics, it's still a fundamental step towards bringing the street-level team of The Defenders together. Finn Jones' Danny Rand is a particularly interesting Marvel character, but as the actor explains, he's not a "superhero" during the first season of Iron Fist as he is in the comics. Jones elaborated:

Despite everything that the title of the series would suggest, Finn Jones' recent comments to TV Guide hint that we won't see the iconic Iron Fist during the first season of the show -- at least not in the traditional manner. This season of the latest Defenders-driven series is an origin story in the most literal sense, and it takes its time bringing us the classic version of Danny Rand, the man who just so happens to have a glowing fist. The struggle between his warrior side and his businessman side will take front and center for the live-action version of the character, and it's a conflict that won't have a quick resolution. That's a luxury that Netflix affords a story such as this; Iron Fist has 13 hours of continuous story to work with in its first season.

We have seen examples of this before -- particularly in the Daredevil corner of the Netflix Marvel universe. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) didn't properly suit up as Daredevil until the final episode of his series' first season, and Jon Bernthal has remained vocal in his belief that we don't see "The Punisher" proper during Season 2 of Daredevil; all we see is Frank Castle on his way to becoming The Punisher. This seems to highlight the biggest advantage that the Netflix series have over the movies; they can be less economical with their storytelling and flesh out their worlds more thoroughly.

That said, while Matt Murdock and Frank Castle's arc saw them learning to embrace their identities, Danny Rand's arc is more about finding his persona. Finn Jones continued:

If you are hoping to see the iconic Iron Fist outfit at some point in the near future, this may come as a bit of a letdown. Marvel is going to take its time with Danny, and that seems to mean that he's not going to properly suit up as Iron Fist for quite some time. Assuming it gets renewed, that is.

Marvel's Iron Fist is currently available to stream on Netflix. For more information pertaining to the rest of 2017's remaining spring TV debuts, make sure to check out our midseason premiere guide and fill out your TV viewing calendars, and then head to our summer TV schedule for everything in the months beyond.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ever expanding place. In addition to the many silver screen adventures that have hit theaters over the past nine years, there are also a handful of quality TV shows, the best of which are produced over at Netflix. The fourth of these shows will be released this weekend, with Iron Fist welcoming the final member of the Defenders. And while fans are eager to see Danny Rand kick ass and inevitably interact with Rosario Dawson's Claire Temple, Iron Fist will have to make a few creative changes to the source material. And now we know of one major character who definitely won't be showing up.

Iron Fist star Finn Jones recently spoke to Yahoo about the upcoming series. Eventually the subject of comic book dragon Shou-Lao was brought up, and Jones revealed that Danny Rand won't be battling the mythical creature in the new show.

Well, that sucks. Who doesn't want to see Iron Fist go toe to toe with a damn dragon? Nobody.

In the comics, Shou-Lao actually granted Danny Rand the powers of Iron Fist. It was his battle with the dragon that resulted in giving Rand the power of the Iron Fist, and making him a bonafide superhero. It should be interesting to see how the MCU series grants Rand his powers, and whether or not he'll actually wear a cool costume.

Alas, it looks like Iron Fist simply doesn't have the subject to bring a full blown dragon to the MCU, although that shouldn't be much of a surprise. Part of why Game of Thrones' dragons look so stunning is because of the fantasy series' giant budget and production timeline. Since Game films nearly a year in advance, the visual affects artists have months to create a life-like dragon. But Iron Fist had significantly less time and money at its disposal than Game of Thrones.

While diehard Marvel fans may be disappointed to learn that Shou-Lao won't be in Iron Fist, it shouldn't be all that much of a surprise. Marvel's Netflix shows have been thoroughly based in reality, despite characters like Jessica Jones and Luke Cage having superpowers. The shows are all set within New York City and usually have very character driven problems that mirror the more comic book-esque adventures. So having Danny Rand fighting off an immortal dragon might have been a little too much suspension of disbelief.

Iron Fist premiers on Netflix in its entirety on March 17th.

If you are a fan of Marvel's Netflix-housed shows, the latest is coming, and fast. It's been a few months since we've gotten a new Marvel and Netflix production, but luckily, Iron Fist hits the schedule this coming Friday. At least it's assumedly lucky, as early reviews are out and they haven't been as kind to Iron Fist as they were to past Netflix shows. Speaking about the new series, lead Finn Jones does have some thoughts about the program's detractors, noting that the shows are made for fans and not the critics. Here's his direct feelings on the matter:

While I wouldn't expect Finn Jones to outright say his new TV series sucks, I do wish he would have gone into the "multiple factors" for the bad reviews he alluded to in his recent interview with Metro. That could include the casting complaints that came out before the series or it could include the fact that Iron Fist is the last new superhero series before The Defenders and as such has seemed to have quite a bit riding on it. It's hard to tell where Finn Jones was going, but regardless, he doesn't seem too rankled by what the critics have had to say. Having appeared on shows like Game of Thrones and Hollyoaks prior, Finn Jones should be aware of the ups and downs of critical acclaim.

Marvel's TV programming has not been perfect. Some of the earlier episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the second season of Agent Carter have not been as well-liked as some of Marvel's other programs. Critics have also tended to like Daredevil Season 2 a little less than the first season. But most of the first seasons of Marvel's Netflix shows have been well rated, which is why the critics' dislike for Iron Fist is somewhat of a surprise.

Finn Jones went on to say he feels the quality of Iron Fist fits in with what we have seen on shows like Daredevil, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones.

It's possible that once the series comes out audiences will feel differently, or at least will watch regardless of whether or not they like Iron Fist less well than Marvel's other Netflix shows. After all, Iron Fist is leading into The Defenders and that series has been pretty anticipated for a while now. If you'd like to take a look at Iron Fist, you can do so on Friday starting at 12:01 a.m. PT on Netflix or see what is coming with our what we know guide. To see what else is heading to Netflix's schedule, take a look at our premiere guide.

When Marvel Studios struck a deal with Netflix a few years ago, they found an opportunity to craft material unlike anything else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the series never quite reach R-rated levels, the streaming service is the outlet for bloody and scary crime-fueled noir, and stories of post-traumatic stress and urban change. In an era when the superhero genre needs to grow or die, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage have all provided unique and different flavors offered for the enjoyment of fans and new audiences alike. Collectively, they have set a high bar for the fourth series in the franchise-within-a-franchise, Iron Fist... and sadly, that bar is one that the new show is unable to clear.

The series, which is put together by Dexter alum Scott Buck, has been dealt a poor hand schedule-wise, as it's the last of the Marvel/Netflix origin stories and positioned just a few months before the hotly-anticipated team-up The Defenders -- but there isn't any part of it that suggests it was ever built to try and overcome these challenges. Instead, the first half of Iron Fist's debut season suggests that it is not only far and away the slowest moving of the small screen franchise, but also armed with a fraction of the complex characters and style. Save a few elements, it's missing what has made these shows compelling and interesting.

Based on the Marvel Comics character created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, Iron Fist centers on Danny Rand (Finn Jones), a young man who has lived an incredible life (at least according to what he tells us, rather than what is actually featured on the show). He is the son of insanely wealthy industrialists, but as a kid found himself the lone survivor of a plane crash in Asia. While the entire world presumed that he was dead, he instead was taken in by a pair of monks to be raised in K'un-Lun -- one of the Seven Cities of Heaven, found in another dimension. It was there that he extensively trained in martial arts and earned the title of Iron Fist, the official guardian of the city against the evil forces of The Hand (the ninjas audiences met in the second season of Daredevil) who has the ability to channel his chi energy into tremendous strength.

15 years after his disappearance, Danny finds his way back home to New York City, and while he seems to think that he can just waltz back into his old life and claim a top position at the still-running Rand Corporation, he meets some opposition in the form of Ward and Joy Meachum (Tom Pelphrey, Jessica Stroup), two former childhood friends of Danny's who have been running the company since the death of their father, Harold (David Wenham). So while audiences sit waiting for the powerful Iron Fist to become a vigilante and start taking on hordes of ninjas, the show instead spins its wheels for its first batch of episodes by having the titular hero prove his identity and deal with corporate politics.

The aforementioned distinct flavors introduced by Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are entirely missing in Iron Fist, as the show lacks any kind identity -- an issue compounded by an ensemble of lackluster characters. With credit to Finn Jones and the stunt team, it's fun to watch Danny fight, but those bits of action are few and far between, and the hero mostly finds himself precariously walking a tightrope between naiveté and stupidity in the context of the modern world. Really, the most engaging character introduced is Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick), a new friend of Danny's who runs her own dojo, but the most interesting thing she gets to do within the first six episodes is battle a total stranger in a cage match.

That being said, nothing in Iron Fist is more shockingly underwhelming than its trio of antagonists. Up until now, this has truly been the bread and butter of the Marvel/Netflix shows, with Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin, Jon Bernthal's The Punisher, David Tennant's Kilgrave, and the trio of Mahershala Ali's Cottonmouth, Alfre Woodard's Mariah Dillard, and Erik LaRay Harvey's Diamondback all elevating their individual programs. So what does Iron Fist deliver? The Meachums: Ward, a pill-popping bully with serious daddy issues; Joy, a woman who randomly switches between friend and foe with the presentation of any new evidence; and Harold, who is unsurprisingly actually alive and keeping an eye on everything, but also literally locked away in an apartment and unable to leave. The Hand will surely play a bigger role in the back half of the first season, but even if that winds up being great, the first six episodes are still punctuated by a complete lack of legitimate threats.

Similar feelings of disappointment can easily be expressed about the complete lack of style in Iron Fist, particularly because what would have been the most obvious approach to the show is entirely ignored. The best version of the series would essentially be what amounts to a 13-hour Bruce Lee movie, but there is nothing distinctive about the editing or cinematography style -- with the episodes not even attempting anything on the level on the "single take" fights in the first two seasons of Daredevil. Perfectly accenting this weak spot is the fact that the show feels like it is actually allergic to K'un-Lun, as what should be production design heaven is rarely glimpsed for more than a few seconds at a time.

If we're grasping for a silver lining here, it's that Iron Fist has a whole lot of room to grow -- and we can only hope that the possible strengths of the last seven episodes in the season can ultimately insulate the show from the weaknesses of the first six. The best case scenario is that the creators' mindfulness of the binge-watch means that it's a slow ramp up to a crazy, explosive finish, and that the apparent weakness of the villains is actually a smoke screen for an eventual terrifying strength. But I can't say I have high hopes. Without a serious turnaround, it will stand as the weakest material Marvel Studios has produced to date.

Iron Fist will be available to binge watch on Netflix starting on March 17th. Head to our Netflix premiere schedule to see everything else hitting the streaming service in 2017.

Before Finn Jones was cast as Marvel and Netflix's latest Defender in Iron Fist, the actor already had plenty of experience with big genre television. Jones previously appeared in a recurring role on Game of Thrones as Loras Tyrell, an extremely popular show that had plenty of its own lofty expectations from fans. Much like Iron Fist, HBO's smash hit is an adaptation, and working on that fantasy show gave Jones just the insight and experience he needed to play Danny Rand. Jones learned how to find inspiration from source material while still providing his own spin on the character.

Finn Jones isn't the only Game of Thrones actor who exchanged their broadswords for fists. Jessica Henwick is portraying Colleen Wing on Iron Fist, but she's also played Nymeria Sand, one of the Sand Snakes, on Game of Thrones. As Jones and Henwick told Collider, they took their experience adapting Game of Thrones and applied it to their performances in Iron Fist, creating something that was respectful to the source material, but still their own.

Adaptation is the key word for Iron Fist. Much like its brothers (Daredevil, Luke Cage) and sister (Jessica Jones), the Netflix show won't be a straight up word-for-word reenactment of a comic book storyline. You'd be hard pressed to find any adaptation that doesn't deviate away from the books at some points. Using those comics to inform the tone seems like a smart idea, and it probably wouldn't be much fun to watch Iron Fist if you knew everything that was coming or what all the character relationships were beforehand.

Iron Fist will tell the origin story of Danny Rand, an heir to a corporate enterprise that went missing as a child. Having been found by the residents of a mythical city, he learns martial arts and becomes the supernatural warrior known as Iron Fist. Now he returns to New York City to reclaim his family company and clean up the streets with his sick kung fu moves.

Iron Fist premieres March 17, 2017, on Netflix. To learn about more Netflix TV shows heading our way, check out our 2017 Netflix premiere guide!

Earlier this year, fans of giant entertainment franchises whooped with glee when Game of Thrones actor Finn Jones was given the title role in Marvel's fourth-wave Netflix drama Iron Fist, and we all wondered how the actor would handle both shows' schedules. Spoiler alert: it didn't end up mattering, given how things played out. But it turns out the timing behind the two gigs couldn't have been more fortunate, as Jones was given the invite to audition for Iron Fist on his very last day of filming for Game of Thrones. My luck is never that amazing.

Finn Jones filmed a scene (perhaps THAT one) with Eugene Simon, who played Lancel Lannister, and that was his final bit of acting for Game of Thrones (that we know of). He then bid his farewells to all involved, including show creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and he headed out to the airport for a flight back home to London. According to Entertainment Tonight, it was while he was biding his time pre-flight that the email came, inviting him to audition to Iron Fist. Here's what Jones thought about the coincidental nature of things.

That's hindsight. At the time, though, Jones wasn't fully aware of the opportunity he was being given. The superhero series was going by the code name Kick, so the badassery of things was lost on him. In fact, he thought it was about football (not the American kind) and wasn't all that pumped about it, since he's apparently not a big fan of the sport. But after he got a little more info and realized this was a Marvel project, his would-be frown turned upside-down, especially since Danny Rand's meditative nature meshes so well with Finn Jones' own practices.

It would have been cool to see the lightbulb pop on over Finn Jones' head when the connection was made. Here's how he put it.

The one, indeed. Finn Jones was one one of the most popular series in the country/world for all six seasons that Game of Thrones has aired so far. But while Ser Loras Tyrell was important, he wasn't on the narrative front line most of the time, and it's a whole different ball game when you're playing the character important enough to get the title. I can't wait to hear who called him in for an audition on his last day of filming Season 1 of Iron Fist.

Keep your own fists cooled down, as we won't be able to watch Iron Fist showing up on Netflix for Season 1 until Friday, March 17, 2017. To see what else is coming to the streaming service, head to our Netflix premiere schedule, and then open up your options with our midseason TV schedule for everything else coming to the small screen.

Three years ago, Marvel announced that four of its heroes would lead their own Netflix shows in the coming years. The last of those heroes is finally about to debut on the small screen. Following two seasons of Daredevil, and one season each of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, Iron Fist is the next series to expand the Netflix side of the MCU. And, following in the footsteps of Doctor Strange and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4, it will pull the curtain back on the mystical forces that are still very much a mystery in this world. However, like its predecessors, Iron Fist will also be packed with plenty of action in the streets of New York, which is appropriate since the eponymous hero has been one of the Marvel universe's top martial artists since the mid-1970s.

Since late 2015, information has slowly trickled about what to expect from Iron Fist, namely though casting reports. Then the first teaser premiered at San Diego Comic-Con 2016, and it was followed in October by a longer trailer shown at New York Comic-Con. With less than half a year to go until the series premiere, we've collected every important detail you need to know before checking out Iron Fist's first round of live action adventures.

Warning: there will be spoilers for the Marvel Netflix shows and Iron Fist's comic book adventures.

When Is The Iron Fist Release Date

Iron Fist will be the first Marvel Netflix show of 2017, with all 13 episodes of its first season premiering on Friday, March 17. So if you don't feel like celebrating St. Patrick's Day the usual ways, stay at your place and binge the adventures of Danny Rand, the MCU's living weapon. If it helps, Iron Fist wears a green costume in the comics, so that provides a loose connection to the Irish, alcohol-filled holiday. Okay, not important. The point is that, just like the previous Netflix shows, you'll be able to spend the whole weekend plowing through the Iron Fist episodes if you have the time.

What Is The Iron Fist Story

Judging from the trailers and reports released so far, it looks like Iron Fist will remain faithful to the original source material. As a child, Danny Rand lost his parents while they were exploring a snowy mountain located near the mystical city of K'un-Lun. Fortunately, the boy was soon discovered by K'un-Lun, and he spent the next 15 years learning martial arts and how to channel the power of the Iron Fist. Now in the present day, Danny will return to New York City to reclaim his father's company, but just like with every other superhero show, extraordinary threats will soon emerge from the shadows, and the young hero will be forced to choose between protecting his family's legacy or embracing his role as Iron Fist.

Danny Rand

Our main protagonist, Danny Rand, will be played by Finn Jones, who was best known before this as Loras Tyrell in Game of Thrones. Since Danny hasn't appeared in any of the previous Marvel Netflix series, we have no idea if his personality or characteristics have been altered for the MCU. All we know so far is that, like on the printed page, he is one of Earth's best fighters. After training in K'un-L'un for more than a decade, he is a master of kung fu and various other fighting styles. Those talents alone are enough to ensure he can deal with common threats that come his way, but not to worry, he's prepared for when more unusual forces emerge. As Iron Fist, Danny is able to channel his body's energy to enhance his natural abilities. This includes speed, reflexes, durability and agility, but it's the strength that especially benefits. Once his fist starts glowing, he packs enough power to punch through a wall, as seen in the teaser. However, the longer he uses this energy, the more tired he becomes, so it's a good thing he has those martial arts moves to fall back on.

Colleen Wing

Colleen Wing may not have any natural superpowers, but she won't be someone you want to mess with in Iron Fist. Played by Jessica Henwick, who played Jessika Pava in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Nymeria Sand in Game of Thrones, Colleen will run her own martial arts dojo in New York City. Needless to say, that means she's also an experienced fighter, but like her comic book counterpart, it also looks like she'll be a swordswoman, judging by the blade she was carrying on her back in the trailer. Aside from her encounters with Danny, she'll also interact with longtime Marvel Netflix player Claire Temple, which we'll touch on later. Beyond that, we don't know what to expect from Colleen in live action. That being said, if the MCU Netflix world is moving in a similar direction as the comics, don't be surprised if she eventually partners with Luke Cage's Misty Knight later down the line.

Harold Meachum

Before Danny Rand's parents died, they were business partners with a man named Harold Meachum, played by 300's David Wenham. Following their deaths, Harold took over the Rand Corporation, so when Danny Rand returns to New York City in Iron Fist to take back the company, that won't please him. If this guy sounds sinister, it's because he is. Going off the information we have so far, it sounds like Harold will be the show's main antagonist, at least from a corporate perspective. Oh, and remember when I mentioned earlier about how Danny's parents died tragically? In the comics, Harold accompanied the Rand family on their expedition, and he was responsible for killing Wendell Rand, though he spared Heather Rand and her son. It's possible that in this universe, Harold is also responsible for one or both of Danny's parents dying, but that has yet to be determined.

Ward Meachum

Harold Meachum doesn't run the Rand Corporation on his own. He has help from his two children. One of them is his son, Ward, played by Banshee's Tom Pelphrey. Ward and his sister Joy (we'll get to her on the next page) grew up with Danny, though it sounds like Ward may have picked on him. Like his father, Ward will be worried that Danny's return to New York City will undo all the work they've accomplished over the years with this company. After Harold died in the comics, both Ward and Joy sought revenge against Iron Fist, believing he was responsible for killing their father, even though the hero had been framed. Ward even collaborated with a few of Iron Fist's mystical enemies. However, Pelphrey specifically said in an interview that the Iron Fist TV series isn't "beholden to representing" Ward the same way on the small screen as he was in the comics, so the character may not travel down the same path in the MCU.

Joy Meachum

Working alongside Ward Meachum is Harold's daughter Joy, played by 90210 actress Jessica Stroup. Unlike her brother, it sounds like she'll be glad that Danny Rand is back in her life, although she will be initially hesitant about if he really is who he says he is. More importantly, Danny's presence will force her to ask questions about herself, and while not specifically stated, we wouldn't be surprised if one of these questions leads her to turn away from her father and brother, or at the very least realize that some of their actions in the name of protecting the company were wrong. As mentioned earlier, Joy attempted to destroy Iron Fist in the comics after she assumed he murdered her father, but she later realized she was wrong and became one of his allies. Perhaps a similar fate is in store for her in live action.

Claire Temple

Remember how Phil Coulson and Nick Fury served as the connective threads between the Phase One MCU movies? That's Claire Temple's job in the Netflix world. After being an integral player in Daredevil's first two seasons and guest starring in the Jessica Jones Season 1 finale, Claire decided to go back home to Harlem in Luke Cage, but she couldn't escape getting involved in yet another superhero's life. Well, Iron Fist isn't going to cut that streak short. After watching Luke Cage's eponymous hero being taken away by the authorities in the Season 1 finale, Claire passed by a telephone pole with a flyer taped on advertising self-defense classes taught by a certain Colleen Wing. With all she's been through, from being kidnapped by gangsters to facing undead ninjas, it's no wonder she wants to learn how to fight. That means we'll see Claire training in Iron Fist, and by being in Colleen's presence, it's only a matter of time before she meets the newest Netflix hero.

Madame Gao

Until now, the Netflix side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is primarily rooted in street-level crime and scientifically-based threats, but even in Daredevil Season 1, there were hints of supernatural forces at work. This was primarily through drug dealer Madame Gao, one of Wilson Fisk's associates. She always had a veil of mystery surrounding her, but when she was able to strike Daredevil with amazing force, that confirmed there was more to her than meets the eye. Despite saying she was returning to her "homeland" at the end of Season 1, Gao popped up again in Season 2 to direct the Man Without Fear to the Blacksmith. The latest Iron Fist trailer has since revealed that she'll also be participating in some way on this show as well. This seemed inevitable given that the symbol printed on her drug packets is the same one displayed by Steel Serpent, one of Iron Fist's enemies in the comics. Since her introduction, many fans have speculated that Madame Gao is the MCU's version of Crane Mother, and while that has yet to be confirmed, don't be surprised if Iron Fist pulls back the curtain on her mystical background.

Zhou Cheng

Iron Fist has villainy covered from the corporate world though the Meachum family, and the mysterious Madame Gao will surely be up to no good. Still, aside from nameless goons, who can we expect to be Danny Rand's main physical adversary this season? Right now, that position seems to belong to Zhou Cheng, played by Mortal Kombat: Legacy's Lewis Tan. In the comics, Zhou Cheng serves an ancient creature called Ch'i Lin, who is desperate to obtain the egg of the dragon Shou-Lao, the being who is K'un Lun's source of power. The only way Ch'i Lin can accomplish this is if K'un Lun's champion, a.k.a. the Iron Fist, is killed, so Zhou Cheng has spent decades eliminating those who hold the title, and for the most part, he's been successful. However, Danny Rand is the newest Iron Fist, which means Cheng will be coming after him. Keep in mind that not every one of the elements above may be brought into the Iron Fist TV show, but at least we're guaranteed cool fights between Danny and Cheng.

Jeri Hogarth

Like Claire Temple, Jeri Hogarth can't escape getting involved in the lives of superpowered people. In Jessica Jones Season 1, her association with the main protagonist meant she also had the misfortunate of meeting Kilgrave. That eventually led to her fiancee being killed and her girlfriend going to prison. By the time the season concluded, all she had left was her legal career. Then Jeri briefly returned at the end of Daredevil Season 2 to recruit Foggy Nelson into her firm. Like her male counterpart from the comics, Jeryn Hogarth, Jeri will help Danny when he returns to the United States in Iron Fist, although it's unclear if she had a relationship with his parents before they died. Marvel TV's Jeph Loeb also said that Danny's optimism will contrast with Jeri's more cynical nature, but maybe being around the Marvel hero will soften her up a bit...just as long as that doesn't take away her edge in the courtroom.

Now that Luke Cage has been released in its entirety on Netflix, it's time to look forward to the future of the MCU's television world. The next series up on the streaming service is Iron Fist, who will welcome the fourth and final hero that will make up the Defenders miniseries. Starring as Danny Rand/Iron Fist is none other than Game of Thrones actor Finn Jones, who played Loras Tyrell for the past six season of the HBO fantasy drama. Because audiences know Loras as being a rather passive, privileged, and young character, many comic book fans had doubts about how Jones would be able to pull of the Living Weapon. But it now appears he was the perfect actor for the job.

Scott Buck, who is one of the executive producers attached to Iron Fist recently spoke to Comic Book Resources about what to expect from the next Marvel/Netflix series. Regarding Finn Jones' casting he said the following:

It seems like the very reason many doubted Finn Jones' ability to portray Iron Fist is actually his greatest strength. His sense of naivety and youth will bring a breath of fresh air to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially considering how gritty and hardened the likes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage are. Danny Rand is still full of possibility, and this sense of youth will presumably serve a similar comedic function to The Flash in DC's upcoming Justice League.

Netflix has promised that Iron Fist will actually be lighter in tone than its Marvel predecessors. The character of Danny Rand is apparently full of hope and youthful wonder, and he will presumably have a much better relationship to his superpowers than someone like Luke Cage. While Luke's powers were a result of a cruel medical experiment, Iron Fist traditionally seeks out his powers purposefully. Additionally, Danny Rand comes from an extremely privileged upbringing, which is yet another reason why he's different from the rest of The Defenders.

It should be interesting to see how Iron Fist's optimism vibes with the rest of the Netflix heroes. Jessica Jones, in particular, is extremely cynical and closed off from new relationships. Will he drive her to drink (more)? Or could his influence help the likes of Jessica, Matt, and Luke Cage realize how special they are?

Iron Fist will be released in its entirety on March 17th, 2017.

Comic fans are going to see one of the medium's best revenge narratives coming to life next year with Netflix's take on Marvel's Iron Fist, and we couldn't be more pumped about it. Oh wait, thanks to some possible character teasing from star Finn Jones, our excitement levels have indeed risen. For if Jones is to be believed, Iron Fist will introduce the martial arts expert Lei Kung the Thunderer during its initial season. Here's the tease.

This short but extremely inspirational speech was delivered to future Iron Fist Daniel Rand by one Lei Kung in the comics, and it's the best way his involvement could have been teased. Well, I guess seeing the actor playing Lei Kung in action would have been cooler, but we've barely seen anything from this show yet, so that wouldn't be feasible. And everybody knows the most important aspect of comic book adaptations is feasibility.

While we obviously have no concrete idea just how Iron Fist would bring Lei Kung into the story, should that happen, I can't imagine the TV show would veer too wildly from the source material where this character is concerned. Daniel's father Wendell discovered the mystical city of K'un-L'un, home of Lei Kung, prior to starting his family. A return trip years later goes badly, and Wendell is murdered, leaving Daniel to mourn as he is accepted into K'un-L'un. Enter Lei Kung.

First appearing on the page in 1974, Lei Kung took on young Daniel as his apprentice and soon found him rising higher than all of the other students. The Thunderer mentors Daniel on both martial arts fisticuffs and the use of weaponry, giving him the skills he needs to take down the man who killed his father. Well, hopefully anyway.

Glad to see that more good guys are being teased for Iron Fist, as the show is reportedly going to go heavier on the villains than any of Marvel's other series on Netflix. Which seems crazy, considering everything Daredevil Season 2 had going. The biggest of the bunch is Steel Serpent, another disciple of Lei Kung's that also happens to be his son. So that should make for some interesting personal politics. And then there are Harold Meachum (David Wenham), Wendell Rand's murderer, and his kids Joy (Jessica Stroup) and Ward (Tom Pelphrey). Expect them to make Daniel's life hell, too.

Iron Fist has yet to get a specific premiere date, but we can expect to find it hitting Netflix at some point in 2017, paving the final path toward the team-up miniseries The Defenders. Luke Cage will hit binge-ready audiences on Friday, September 30, and you can find all of Netflix's other release dates in our premiere schedule. For all your other favorite shows' debuts, head to our fall TV schedule.

This evening, Marvel Studios and Netflix dropped the first teaser trailer for Luke Cage, the new series that will be out this fall -- but they've also given us a sneak peek at what will be the franchise-within-a-franchise's fourth major series: Iron Fist. Watch the brand new video below, featuring the first ever live-action footage with the character!

So what exactly is it that we're looking at in this trailer? Well, if we take it all at face value, and also assume that all of the events are in chronological order, then it seems like what we're mostly seeing is snippets of the journey that hero Danny Rand started on when he was just a young boy. It begins with a plane crash, and a young Danny being comforted by his mother. While whether or not she survives it not made clear in the footage, the young boy does live, and finds himself strapped to an airplane seat on the side of a snowy mountain. He is found by a pair of monks who presumably save him, and that's when his journey to superhero-dom begins.

Years later the man who would be known as Iron Fist returns home to New York, and while it seems that he doesn't get the warmest reception at first -- strapped to a hospital bed against his will -- it's not long before he starts working on his abilities stateside, showcased by his ability to completely decimate a concrete wall. In short -- it's all pretty badass.

Created by Scott Buck, whose previous credits include Six Feet Under, Rome and Dexter, Iron Fist will tell the story of young Danny (played by Finn Jones), who is a young man born into a wealthy family in New York who winds up going on one hell of a mystical adventure. Traveling to the ancient city of Kun Lun, he becomes a martial arts master through years of incredible training, and it leaves him with an incredible gift: the ability to channel all of his chi into his fist, giving it strength beyond any other human. After returning to his home city, he begins a mission to clear out corruption and crime. Presumably we will eventually get to see him put on a green suit and yellow mask while doing so -- but we all knew that costume wasn't going to be featured in the show's first teaser trailer.

Iron Fist has been filming this summer, and is slated for release some time in 2017 -- and while it's expected that we'll see it in the first few months of the year, no official date has been announced. While we wait for more details, what did you think of this debut trailer? Hit the comments section below with your thoughts!

Game of Thrones is one of the most popular shows on television. Because of the giant audience and great material, being part of the ensemble cast has been a star-making moment for a plethora of the citizens of Westeros. The most recent success story is Finn Jones, who plays The Knight Of The Flowers, Loras Tyrell. While Jones has been a recurring character for every season of Game thus far, he’ll be sinking his teeth into a more meaty role as the title character in Netflix and Marvel’s upcoming series Iron Fist. While it’s exciting to see Finn as a leading man, fans of Game of Thrones are wondering if this new job means that he’ll no longer be in the HBO drama, and if Loras might be killed in order to write him off of the show.

Finn Jones recently spoke to his now rather busy schedule, saying:

This statement, which comes to us from EW, seems like a reason to celebrate for fans of the Tyrell family, myself included. Of course, there is the possibility that this isn’t totally true.

On one hand, it does seem entirely possible that Finn Jones will be able to balance two big dramas at once. Loras Tyrell isn’t one of the leading characters, so he usually only makes a few appearances per season. To date, Loras has only appeared in a total of 19 episodes of the 50 aired of Game of Thrones. 

Loras is currently rotting away in the cells underneath the Sept of Baelor for his homosexuality and lying to the Great Sparrow. He and his sister Queen Margaery were noticeably absent from the final episodes of Season 5, and while the two have a moment in the recent trailer, we can assume that the Tyrell siblings will be in captivity for at least the start of Season 6.

Additionally, Finn Jones is not the only Game of Thrones side character who is appearing in Iron Fist. We previously reported that Jessica Henwick, who plays sandsnake Nymeria Sand, is actually the female lead in Iron Fist. So it is a distinct possibility that the HBO drama is willing to schedule around their actors’ schedules- especially since they aren’t leads. I guess the casting department for Iron Fist are fans of Game of Thrones.

On the other hand, Finn Jones may be trying to throw fans off his departure from Game of Thrones. Balancing two television shows is hard enough, but it’s not like they’re filming in nearby Hollywood studio lots. King’s Landing, where Loras has almost exclusively been in for his tenure on Game of Thrones, is filmed in Croatia. So either Jones is going to get very familiar with flying, or something has to change. 

Given the precarious position that the Tyrell siblings are in, I wouldn’t be surprised if Margaery sold her brother out in order to be released from the cells. Loras has always been Margaery’s biggest cheerleader and partner in crime, so he might be willing to sacrifice himself so that the Tyrell family could once again flourish and get their revenge on the Lannisters and that little bitch Olyvar. 

Only time will tell how Loras fares in Game of Thrones, which returns to HBO April 24th. We’ll continue to update you on both Game and Iron Fist as more details become public. 

Marvel’s Netflix properties have become a microcosm of the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. Slowly but surely the dark, gritty boroughs of New York have begun to fill up with iconic, violent characters. While Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and The Punisher have all been cast and showcased to the world, one character remains noticeably absent: Iron Fist. Up until now we have heard very little about the potential casting for the Marvel badass, but now it seems the comic book giant has found its Danny Rand, and he hails from Westeros. Actor Finn Jones will portray the character. 

A new rumor leaked to That Hashtag Show suggests that Marvel Studios may have found an Iron Fist for their Netflix universe in Game of Thrones actor Finn Jones. Jones has made a name for himself as Ser Loras Tyrell on the hit HBO show, but has not really done much mainstream acting outside of the fantasy series. Other outlets later confirmed the casting. 

The source that leaked the information also accurately reported the casting of Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Slingshot on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. so there’s at least some degree of credibility to these rumors. It also helps that Luke Cage's Mike Colter also let it slip a while back that Danny Rand had already been cast. Then, Netflix officially confirmed the news that the GOT actor would definitely be the star of the show.

Overall this casting makes sense. Finn Jones has generally the right look for Iron Fist, and he seems roughly the right age. In fact, he seems to resemble numerous other actors who had previously been rumored for the role, such as Ryan Philippe.

Some earlier rumors had also suggested that Marvel had looked into casting Asian American actors in the role of Iron Fist, but if this casting holds up, that simply won’t be the case. Considering Iron Fist’s penchant for martial arts and overall Asian aesthetic, this might be a wasted opportunity for increased superhero diversity, but Finn Jones remains a talented actor and we cannot complain about the casting too much.

Daniel Rand a.k.a Iron Fist represents an incredibly different direction not only for Marvel’s Netflix series, but also for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. The son of a wealthy businessman, Rand is a martial arts master who can harness a mystical power that enhances his physical attributes in combat. Even the most outlandish characters in Marvel’s Netflix properties have at least had abilities with some degree of basis in science; now it seems that they are following the overall Marvel trend of moving closer to the realm of magic and the mystical.

We will bring you more information related to the Iron Fist casting news as it becomes available. A release date for the Iron Fist series has yet to be announced by Marvel or Netflix.