Iron Fist casting call and movie thread

[Steve Holt]

My instinct tells me that in order to do Iron Fist the right way it has to be an homage to kung fu flicks. Which simply cannot be achieved with actors that have no kung fu. I'm sorry.

Iron Fist is not, IMO, a superhero. He's a kung fu warrior, his foes are kung fu warriors. What's so good about The Immortal Iron Fist versus the Iron Fist series of the 70s is that it captures the feel of 70s exploitation and kung fu films, while the original Iron Fist run is just a superhero comic and whats written and approached like any other superhero comic of its day.

The Immortal Iron Fist is more like a kung fu fantasy with exploitation stuff. Iron First needs to be a Grindhouse kind of picture, not a polished faux martial arts movie with any of these actors you guys are suggesting... and they are being suggested largely because they are blond haired. None of these guys screams out to me "Danny Rand."

I like Ray Park's passion for the role, but he's probably a bit old and in all of his major roles he's essentially just a stuntman with a couple throwaway lines(Maul and Toad). So he's probably out. I'd say Scott Adkins but again, his age might be a factor. He's a decent actor though and definitely comes from a background that suits him to the Grindhouse style that Iron Fist should be given. Good screen martial artist too. That said, I'd prefer someone a bit more wiry.

Your suggestions for Misty Knight are also kind of "meh." Sure, that actress is hot and dark skinned... but IMO, she's no Misty Knight. Misty needs to be a tougher kind of woman, someone you could actually see being like... a member of the Black Panther Party. Not the lady above.

Scott Adkins should have been Snake Eyes instead of Ray Park, was never really happy with that choice

 

[DaveMoral]

Iron Fist can be categorized as a super hero. His fist can punch a hole on tanks. Now Shang Chi is not, if there's a movie on him (doubt it) it's going to be a kung fu movie.

Iron Fist's powers from the Chi of Shou-Lao are pretty much par for the course in kung fu movies and Chinese martial arts fiction. Check out any adaptation of Legend of the Condor Heroes/Eagle Shooting Hero(Shaw Brothers' Brave Archer series is a good one) or Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre(watch the Jet Li one sometimes titled Evil Cult or Kung Fu Cult Master).

The Legendary Couple/Return of the Condor Heroes has numerous TV and film adaptations, and manhua as well. Here's a Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre manhua.

If anything those characters have abilities surpassing the Immortal Weapons in many ways.

 

[Sebastos]

In wait for Iron Fist's big screen debut I think an animated feature would be awesome. Base it off of The Immortal Iron Fist and you have the makings of an epic animated movie.

Check of this cool Iron Fist animated design:

HYDRA Soldier:

Misty Knight:

All that's missing is Orson Randall and the Immortal Weapons lol. But seriously, it'd be awesome to see and a nice "warm up" for his movie.

 

[MarvelKnight]

Justin Hartley who was Green Arrow on Smallville gets my vote.

 

[Gamma Burst]

Can't wait to see him on USM!

 

[Sebastos]

Justin Hartley who was Green Arrow on Smallville gets my vote.

I think they'll go with someone alot younger, Iron Fist has franchise potential...I'm willing to bet they'll go the Thor route for casting Danny. Someone not well known but fits the role perfectly.

Can't wait to see him on USM!

Same here, the series is looking really good and Iron Fist's role in it is going to be awesome!

 

[MarvelKnight]

I'm going to give USM e few episodes to grow on me, because I try not to judge by trailers alone. But I find from what I've seen so far, it doesn't look all that good, imo. I hope I'm wrong though, we need a solid SM show that can last more than 2 seasons.

 

[Sebastos]

I think it looks great animation wise. I'm just excited to see Iron Fist in animated form and judging by what the creators said about Danny, they really understand him as a character. They were inspired by The Immortal Iron Fist when it came to Danny being in the show which is awesome, that series is just to awesome for words.

 

[OsGom]

My instinct tells me that in order to do Iron Fist the right way it has to be an homage to kung fu flicks. Which simply cannot be achieved with actors that have no kung fu. I'm sorry.

Iron Fist is not, IMO, a superhero. He's a kung fu warrior, his foes are kung fu warriors. What's so good about The Immortal Iron Fist versus the Iron Fist series of the 70s is that it captures the feel of 70s exploitation and kung fu films, while the original Iron Fist run is just a superhero comic and whats written and approached like any other superhero comic of its day.

I agree Iron Fist would work great as a Kung Fu genre homage, as Luke Cage would work as a Blaxploitation homage. Then you mesh the genres in an H4H trilogy.

However, I would much rather have someone who can act than a martial artist. If we can get both that's great! but with stunt doubles and modern effects, a martial artist isn't absolutely mandatory. I am glad they didn't move forward with Ray Park in this role.

Also as far as his foes go, yes many are martial artists but you have plenty of others thrown in there. Sabertooth was an IF villain first!

Your suggestions for Misty Knight are also kind of "meh." Sure, that actress is hot and dark skinned... but IMO, she's no Misty Knight. Misty needs to be a tougher kind of woman, someone you could actually see being like... a member of the Black Panther Party. Not the lady above.

Yaya Dacosta is Misty Knight! She was in The Kids are Alright and did a really good job.

I think they'll go with someone alot younger, Iron Fist has franchise potential...I'm willing to bet they'll go the Thor route for casting Danny. Someone not well known but fits the role perfectly.

Yes! Cast younger! Iron Fist is in his early 20's.

 

[cryptic name]

I agree with alot of people who say the Immortal Iron Fist arc with Orson Randall and the attack on K'un L'un would be great in a movie, but they seem more like sequel plots to me. In my opinion, Iron Fist is one of those characters that actually needs an origin story in his first movie to really sell the concept and the tone of the character and the world. The idea of the line of Iron Fists and the other Cities of Heaven and their immortal weapons is better sequel material because it has the effect of expanding a world that audience thinks it already knows.

 

[Sebastos]

Feige stated the movie would take in part from Immortal Iron Fist and that his world opens up a whole new part of the MCU to explore. I think we'll see the legacy aspect in the first film and then maybe Danny finds out about Orson in the sequel.

There are different ways they can approach this so we'll see.

 

[Sebastos]

So Ed Brubaker wants Armie Hammer as Iron Fist:

In earlier Emerald City Comicon post I revealed the fanboys who dressed up as Iron Fist in Seattle. The fan favorite character was on the top of many minds. The mention of him generated talk from creators on panels and applause from the audience.

Ed Brubaker made an excellent casting choice. During the AvX panel with C.B. Cebulski, Matt Fraction and Brubaker a fan asked about a Marvel film they would like to see.

Brubaker responded with Armie Hammer as Iron Fist referencing how when he saw The Social Network that Danny Rand could have been the third Winklevoss. (Hammer played the billionaire twins who sued the founder of Facebook in David Fincher’s movie.)

Matt Fraction even did a nod to Brubaker's comment in Defender #4:

What do you guys think?

 

[DrCosmic]

Wow, I don't think I've seen pro-fan-casting that blatant since the Ultimates.

 

[Christopher_M]

 

[Christopher_M]

Ryan Gosling all the way! He's already doing Muay Thai training for his next film Only God Forgives, more marital arts training than most of the purposed actors...

 

[actionavenue]

Why should...Chuck Norris be a punchline? He is one of the greatest non asian martial artists ever to be in film. The character of Yu-Ti is caucasian as he is the brother of Wendell Rand, Danny Rand's Dad. I think he would be perfect. Actually Iron Fist had a relationship with Colleen Wing in the 70's comics as well. Misty Knight had her own relationship with a New York Police Detective in the comics so he could be her love interest in the film. Before It becomes a soap opera that is.

Certainly, I agree with your statement about Chuck Norris. He is an awesome martial artist and would actually bring some authenticity to a movie about Iron Fist.
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[metaphysician]

I *think* the family relationship between Wendell Rand and Yu-Ti was retconned in the recent Immortal Iron Fist series.

 

[MadVillainy]

I don't know much about Iron Fist. But his look and his powers has me looking forward to this film. But I dont know about Armie Hammer. Hammer is a pretty big, muscular and seems better for Superman, THor, Aquaman kind of role and isnt Danny more lean and mean like Cam Gigandet, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund kinda guy?

I mean Hammer is a good actor though so I guess it doesnt matter

 

[chiefchirpa]

^ Yeah. You will need a very big Luke Cage if they pair him with Armie Hammer Danny Rand.

 

[OsGom]

Ryan Gosling would be great. Danny is lean and wirey.

 

[flickchick85]

I agree Gosling would be a great Danny.

 

[Majik1387]

Lots of good actors listed in the thread. Brubaker is ******ed to want Hammer though. Gosling is a no go though.

 

[flickchick85]

Brubaker is ******ed to want Hammer though.

That's one thing you and I will always be on the same page on Majik (unless one of us gets a case of the crazies and actually starts to like him), lol.

 

[Majik1387]

That's one thing you and I will always be on the same page on Majik (unless one of us gets a case of the crazies and actually starts to like him), lol.

I know there's more we agree on, but always happy to have something solidified.

I'd say my top choices(in no order than the first one being my first choice) for Iron Fist would be;
Cam Gigandet, Charlie Hunnam, Garret Hedlund, Ryan Kwanten, Ryan Phillipe, Benjamin Mackenzie, Jensen Ackles(though I prefer him for Venom in new Spidey-verse), Ryan Reynolds(I know he failed with Green Lantern, but I didn't find him to be the big problem there), Justin Hartley.

As for Misty Knight, I love some of the suggestions in here, with Sydney Poitier being the best chioce, though I also liked the suggestions of Jessica Lucas, Zoe Saldana, and YaYa DaCosta(I know she's from ANTM, but her small roles in big movies have been pretty good, I think she'd own as Misty if given the chance), but I'd also throw these names into the list; Joy Bryant, Marsha Thomason, Regina Hall, and Bianca Lawson.

And for Colleen Wing, I'd like to see either Moon Bloodgood, Maggie Q, Grace Park, Lindsay Price, or Julia Ling. I love Olivia Wilde, but the suggestion of her in this role is laughable.

 

[Jordacar]

I know there's more we agree on, but always happy to have something solidified.

I'd say my top choices(in no order than the first one being my first choice) for Iron Fist would be;
Cam Gigandet, Charlie Hunnam, Garret Hedlund, Ryan Kwanten, Ryan Phillipe, Benjamin Mackenzie, Jensen Ackles(though I prefer him for Venom in new Spidey-verse), Ryan Reynolds(I know he failed with Green Lantern, but I didn't find him to be the big problem there), Justin Hartley.

Great selection of candidates. It's gotta be one of those guys. I can feel it.

Looking at some of those names, I just realized that Danny Rand is the only superhero who should avoid appearing shirtless on magazine covers and the like, because the sight of his familiar washboard abs could jeopardize his secret identity. t:

And for Colleen Wing, I'd like to see either Moon Bloodgood, Maggie Q, Grace Park, Lindsay Price, or Julia Ling. I love Olivia Wilde, but the suggestion of her in this role is laughable.

I also like Dichen Lachman for Colleen. And thank you for not including Devon Aoki on that list. Some people, I swear.