Netflix: Marvel’s ‘Iron Fist’ Could Bring Everything Together In TV Universe

Netflix and Marvel released the latest trailer for Iron Fist yesterday, showcasing Finn Jones (Game of Thrones) as Danny Rand and his journey back home to New York City as Iron Fist, a kung-fu master who trained in a mystical city high up in the Kunlun mountain range in the continent of Asia.

Marvel’s Iron Fist story may seem familiar to some viewers, as seen in the Netflix trailer. They may draw comparisons to the story of Batman, who lost his parents as a child and eventually trained in the ways of martial arts somewhere in Asia before coming back to the united States to retake his place as the head of his family’s multi-billion dollar company.

Spoiler alert: the similarities end there.

In the source material, rather than a random street criminal in Joe Chill, Danny’s father, Wendell Rand, was murdered by Harold Meachum—played in the show by Australian actor David Wenham (Lord of the Rings, 300). He let Wendell fall to his death while they were climbing up a snowy mountain, removing an obstacle to taking over the business. In the comics, Danny’s mother was killed by wolves while trying to protect her son in the freezing wilderness.

As we see in the Netflix/Marvel trailers, the tragedy occurs instead in the form of a plane accident. We don’t see Meachum involved in that accident, so it is unsure whether or not he was involved or if he was even present. We do see Danny’s rescue at the hands of monks, and we do see Meachum acting as the head of Rand Enterprises, these two facets of the story aligning with the comic books.

As the Netflix/Marvel trailers show, Iron Fist uses the power of chi, living energy in Chinese culture that grants one who is able to tap into its power additional strength. This dives into a more mystical realm for the Netflix/Marvel television shows. The other three heroes received their abilities through the works of chemical science, whereas Iron Fist received his powers channeling a sort of spiritual energy, complimented by him ripping the heart out of a mystical dragon.

One of the biggest hints of foreshadowing to the greater Netflix/Marvel universe came in the first season of Daredevil, with Matt Murdock investigating a Chinese heroin trafficking ring, with the drug packages having the Steel Serpent logo on them. The Steel Serpent is a rival to Danny, one who was also challenging to become the Iron Fist. He lost, and ever since, he sought out revenge. There has been no confirmation if that character will appear, though early rumors point to Minority Report‘s Arleo Dordar in that role for the first Netflix season, as explained by the Inquisitr.

We saw plenty of Madame Gao in the two seasons of Daredevil on Netflix, who is the likely leader of that entire operation, linking the two shows together. She even seems to be pulling on some of Meachum’s strings, as we see her behind him in the shadows in the Netflix trailer. Her organization is much more than we’ve seen so far in the past, and they are the likely candidate for who Danny will fight throughout the season.

Claire Temple, Rosario Dawson’s character, has appeared on all of the Netflix Marvel seasons so far. With her encounters with the Hand in Daredevil Season 2 and with three other Marvel heroes, she has first-hand experience with all of the craziness in the universe. She understands that there needs to be “someone with special skills” to fight the villains, though she seems to have some trouble understanding what an iron fist means. She is clearly the one character who is the catalyst in bringing all Netflix/Marvel heroes together.

Iron Fist television series will also introduce Colleen Wing, played by fellow Game of Thrones actress Jessica Henwick. In the comics, she has deep ties with Misty Knight, the female detective who appeared in the Netflix Marvel show, Luke Cage. Add in the fact that Danny and Misty dated in the comics, and these three characters could help bridge the gap between Luke Cage and Iron Fist.

Netflix and Marvel’s Jessica Jones is a little more detached from Iron Fist than the other Netflix Marvel shows. Her relationship with Cage is likely what will bring her into the fold of Marvel’s The Defenders on Netflix.

Iron Fist comes out on March 17, 2017.

[Featured Image by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Images]