Marvel’s Iron Fist is barreling toward its March premiere as the latest in an established string of highly acclaimed, successful Netflix series produced by Marvel Entertainment. It is the final piece of the sprawling puzzle that is Marvel’s The Defenders, which is also set to premiere on Netflix this year. If it’s anywhere near the quality of fellow Netflix series Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, then Iron Fist is sure to deliver more gritty, hard-hitting Marvel-based entertainment.
Iron Fist has already listed an impressive group of directors for its first season - including John Dahl, who has previously directed for Jessica Jones, and Farren Blackburn, who has previously worked on Daredevil. However, one of the other directors for the new series may come as somewhat of a surprise, based on his relative lack of directorial experience.
Rapper RZA, who is best known as the de facto leader of the iconic hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, has been revealed as the director of the sixth episode of Iron Fist’s first season. Series star Finn Jones revealed the news in an Extra live-stream, as reported by MCU Exchange. Although RZA is best known for his hip-hop career, he has long established himself as an actor, having played a role in G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
Iron Fist will not be RZA’s directorial debut; he wrote, directed, and starred in 2012’s coincidentally-titled The Man With The Iron Fists, a martial arts movie with no connection to Marvel’s Iron Fist. The episode he directed is titled “Immortal Emerges From Cave”, which MCU Exchange speculates is a nod to Danny Rand/Iron Fist’s origin story.
RZA is known for his affinity for martial arts movies, which makes him potentially a great fit for Netflix’s version of Iron Fist. Jones himself says that RZA “has a really good vision of what he wants” and that the director “really understands that genre, the martial arts genre.” Even though it’s just one episode, RZA has a big opportunity here to not just continue establishing himself as a director but to translate his passion for the martial arts genre to what is expected to be another exciting new Netflix series for Marvel Entertainment.
Iron Fist has a lot going for it in terms of its stars and directors attached to the series, but it also has tough acts to follow in Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage. Marvel is on such a good streak with its Netflix programming, it could almost be due for a letdown. But what RZA may lack in directorial experience he more than makes up for with his deep knowledge and passion for martial arts entertainment, and there’s little reason to believe that his installment won’t be a strong addition to the series and that Iron Fist won’t be a strong addition to Netflix’s deep Marvel catalog.
Daredevil season 1 and 2, Jessica Jones season 1, and Luke Cage season 1 are now available on Netflix. Iron Fist will premiere on March 17. The Defenders and The Punisher will arrive at some point this year. Premiere dates for the newest seasons of Jessica Jones, Daredevil, and Luke Cage have not yet been revealed.
Source: Extra [via MCU Exchange]
