Iron Fist

Here’s what would have happened to Danny next.

Marvel’s Iron Fist may have receded from the spotlight, but the final Defender series may never escape the controversial casting around it. Even star Jessica Henwick was uncertain of climbing aboard after Finn Jones joined the series, claiming “it was a hard decision...

Have you ever seen those movie ads on TV filled with gushing quotes from critics and thought to yourself, “I saw that movie; it was terrible. Where did they find these positive reviews?” If you have, you’re not alone — and you’re going to love ScreenCrush’s newest series, Critics Are Raving!, which balances the cinematic scales with trailers full of slightly more accurate (and slightly more negative) lines from reviews. Real critics. Real quotes. Really bad movies. That’s what’s Critics Are Raving! is all about.

Your friendly neighborhood Lego Spider-Man, clicking away like only a Lego Spider-Man can. Over the last few years, Lego has been in the Peter Parker business, and the result is a range of figures with surprising depth to their roster --- and some really surprising additions (and exclusions)! As huge Lego fans, ComicsAlliance has been picking and clicking Lego Spider-Man characters since they launched five years ago. And clearly we needed to rank them!

Anyone who partook of Netflix’s Iron Fist could recognize the series’ issues extend beyond casting, though we still wonder how things might have gone with a more culturally appropriate Danny Rand. That concern in particular hasn’t made inroads with the Marvel character’s co-creator, who shares a harsh response over “cultural appropriation and crap like that, which just makes me furious.”

Marvel superheroes across the TV-movie spectrum may not join forces anytime soon, but that isn’t stopping a few team-ups behind the camera. Case in point. a notable Iron Fist star has Doctor Strange himself to thank for the gig, as Benedict Cumberbatch put in a good word.

Thanks to the Netflix television show, Iron Fist is a character that's on a lot of people's minds, but not quite for the reasons Marvel may want. The casting of Finn Jones is regarded by many as an ill-conceived choice that adheres too closely to the comics and leans on tropes of the white savior. Inspired by Kris Anka's 2015 redesign of the character as an Asian-American hero, some of comics' best artists have offered their own interpretations of this more badass, more culturally relevant, and --- let's be honest --- more downright sexy Danny Rand.

Marvel’s Netflix Iron Fist may have neglected a colorful costume over its first thirteen episodes, though the final Defender series did manage to sneak in grainy footage of a previous Iron Fist in familiar garb. Now, a much closer look at that note-perfect costume has arrived, and … remind me why we couldn’t have Finn Jones wear this?

Even as Marvel’s Iron Fist finally completed the sequence of Netflix heroes that will bring us The Defenders team-up, certain fans will never give up hope that the four could join the larger collective of cinematic Avengers. Sadly, The Falcon is none-too-keen on such a crossover, as Anthony Mackie dismisses Marvel’s TV heroes as “different universes, different worlds.”

Plenty of familiar Iron Fist names were floated throughout the casting process, though several seemed to fall by the wayside as production got underway. Now, not only has a major Iron Fist character been confirmed for a stealthy Season 1 appearance, but said star is already eying a Season 2 return.