10 Actors Who Could Play Marvel And Netflix’s Iron Fist Perfectly

With season two of Daredevil set to premiere in March and Luke Cage currently shooting, it's odd that we still haven't had any casting news for Iron Fist. Troubling rumours at one point claimed the series was being scrapped by Marvel and Netflix, though the TV division's head honcho Jeph Loeb was quick to deny that last year. While that was initially met with some scepticism, the fact that a showrunner has finally been locked down is very good news indeed (even if it is the guy who was in charge of the weakest seasons of Dexter), and now fans are anxiously awaiting casting news for the final member of the team of Defenders that Marvel are assembling. So, who exactly is Iron Fist? Well, the official synopsis for the show revealed that after being missing for years, Daniel Rand returns to New York City and fights against the criminal element corrupting his home with incredible kung-fu mastery and ability to summon the awesome power of the fiery Iron Fist. If the plan is for the series to launch early next year, we should hear something soon, but of all the possible choices out there, who would be the best pick to bring Iron Fist to life on the small screen? It's going to be a demanding role - with a big emphasis on action - but the ten film and TV stars listed here all have the right attributes. 10) Alex Pettyfer Despite some well publicized issues on the sets of several of his movies which led to him working only sporadically over the past few years, recent interviews have pointed to Alex Pettyfer changing his ways and maturing somewhat, and if Marvel were willing to give Robert Downey Jr. a chance, why not him? Providing he can get himself together then, Pettyfer has all the makings of being a great Iron Fist, and he has both the right look and age for this to work perfectly. He's also a pretty talented actor and could really shine working with a studio as reliable as Marvel. Unfortunately, though, all those stories about him may ultimately put Netflix off working with the British actor. 9) Timothy Olyphant So, you probably think that Timothy Olyphant is too old to play Iron Fist, but who ever said the character has to be young? In many ways, it would be a lot more interesting to learn that Danny Rand either spent decades in K'un-Lun (giving his series a real fish out of water vibe) or that he's been back for some time and focused more on rebuilding the Rand Corporation than he has utilizing the skills he learned in that mystical realm. An evil rising to force him out into the open has a lot of storytelling potential and was actually hinted at in Daredevil with that Steel Serpent Easter Egg, so if that is the route they're going, it will be hard to find anyone better than this former Justified star. 8) Ryan Phillippe Ryan Phillippe is a name which fans have been throwing around for years while talking about Iron Fist, and it's fairly easy to see why. He has the right look and impressed in movies like The Lincoln Lawyer and on the small screen in Damages. While it could be argued that he's better suited to a villainous role, he's shown off the kind of traits you might associate with Danny Rand in various roles over the years. He actually did have a meeting with Marvel last year, so of all the people listed here, he may have the best chance of landing the gig. 7) Ben Foster Ben Foster was wasted in X-Men: The Last Stand, and with his character actually recast for the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse, he's free and clear to take on a very different Marvel role. An incredible talent, the Warcraft star has a darkness about him which would arguably be well suited to the character, given how he lost his parents and the trials he went through to become Iron Fist. Foster is also the kind of actor you could take seriously as both the businessman Danny Rand and the ass kicking Iron Fist, and he's shown off his action credentials in countless movies. Scoring someone as high profile as him would also lend a weight to the series, which is important since it's about such an obscure hero. 6) Daniel Henney It was revealed late last year that Marvel are considering Asian American actors for the role of Iron Fist, but an argument has since been made that it's more than a little clichéd to cast someone from that background as a martial arts expert. Others believe that it’s the only way the character’s abilities can be accurately portrayed, and as you can probably tell, this is a very divisive issue. If they do decide to go this route though, Daniel Henney definitely stands out as a solid choice and someone on the verge of breaking out after small parts in the likes of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Hawaii Five-O. He's a talented, likeable actor and a much better pick than the usual names that are thrown around. 5) Scott Eastwood Regardless of his famous surname, it feels like Scott Eastwood is destined to become a star. Looking at how Marvel and Netflix have cast the rest of their shows, he's also currently around the right level of fame to be well-suited to such a role, and taking on Iron Fist could help get him to the next level AND give him a recurring gig in the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. The problem here, of course, is that Eastwood is set to make an appearance in Suicide Squad next year, but providing that it's not a major role which will see him show up in future instalments of that franchise, Marvel should have no problem scooping him up to take on the role of Danny Rand. 4) Garrett Hedlund Garrett Hedlund moved away from big budget blockbusters after the tepid response to TRON: Legacy and will likely want to do the same following Pan (even though his performance received a fair bit of praise). That's why something like Iron Fist could be perfect for the actor who, surprisingly, still hasn't landed a superhero role. Many actors have turned to television to rejuvenate their careers in recent years, and that would be no bad thing for Hedlund. That aside though, and Danny Rand is very much a character that is easy to picture him playing. His strong dramatic performances outside of the blockbuster realm would guarantee a high level of quality here, too. 3) Richard Madden After departing Game of Thrones far too soon (though it's not as if that was his choice), Richard Madden has impressed in Cinderella, but shied away from anything more action oriented. Seeing as Pompeii and MI-5 went so poorly for former co-star Kit Harington, perhaps he's just waiting for the right one, and it's hard to think of a place which would treat him better than Netflix and their corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You need only look at the HBO series he starred in for all those years for proof that he could really nail the portrayal of a powerful and strong willed character like Iron Fist, while he also has the right sort of grittiness about him which would be perfect for The Defenders. 2) Liam Hemsworth Liam Hemsworth being cast in a superhero movie is something that's long overdue, and while there are plenty of DC Comics roles he'd be well suited for, he would be great to see him follow his brother into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After making a name for himself in The Hunger Games movies and being by far the best thing about The Expendables 2, a comic book film feels like a natural next step. Despite not being a huge star, he has a high enough profile to bring a lot of new eyes to Iron Fist, while he also just so happens to be every bit as likeable as broth Chris. With action movie credentials aplenty, Hemsworth has the look and build to make for a very convincing Iron Fist in this series. 1) Dan Stevens Dan Stevens is the most popular fan suggestion for Iron Fist, and while you may think that means Marvel will probably shy away from choosing him, that same support certainly worked out pretty well for Benedict Cumberbatch. After departing Downton Abbey for Hollywood, the British actor impressed in The Guest and proved there that he has all the makings of being a great superhero if the right role comes along. Iron Fist is definitely it, as not only has Stevens shown that he can handle action, but he's also the kind of excellent actor who would bring the necessary amount of depth to this character. Throw in the fact that he looks the part, and Marvel has their man.