Iron Fist is an American streaming television series created for Netflix by Scott Buck, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise, and is the fourth in a series of shows that lead up to a Defenders crossover miniseries.
The series stars Finn Jones as Danny Rand / Iron Fist, with Jessica Henwick, Tom Pelphrey, Jessica Stroup, and Sacha Dhawan also starring. They are joined by Ramón Rodríguez, Rosario Dawson and David Wenham in the first season, with Simone Missick and Alice Eve starring in the second. In addition to original characters, several characters based on various Marvel properties also appear throughout the series.
| Character | Portrayed by | Appearances | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Season 1 | Season 2 | ||
| Main characters | ||||
| Danny Rand Iron Fist | Finn Jones | "Snow Gives Way" | colspan="2" | |
| Colleen Wing | Jessica Henwick | colspan="2" | ||
| Ward Meachum | Tom Pelphrey | colspan="2" | ||
| Joy Meachum | Jessica Stroup | colspan="2" | ||
| Bakuto | Ramón Rodríguez | "Felling Tree with Roots" | ||
| Davos | Sacha Dhawan | "The Mistress of All Agonies" | colspan="2" | |
| Claire Temple | Rosario Dawson | "Under Leaf Pluck Lotus" | ||
| Harold Meachum | David Wenham | "Snow Gives Way" | ||
| Misty Knight | Simone Missick | "" | ||
| Mary Walker | Alice Eve | "The Fury of Iron Fist" | ||
| Recurring characters | ||||
| Wendell Rand | David Furr | "Snow Gives Way" | ||
| Megan | Barrett Doss | |||
| Kyle | Alex Wyse | |||
| Darryl | Marquis Rodriguez | "Shadow Hawk Takes Flight" | ||
| Gao | Wai Ching Ho | "Rolling Thunder Cannon Punch" | ||
| Kevin Singleton | Ramon Fernandez | |||
| Lawrence Wilkins | Clifton Davis | "Eight Diagram Dragon Palm" | ||
| Donald Hooper | John Sanders | |||
| Maria Rodriguez | Elise Santora | |||
| Bethany | Natalie Smith | "The Fury of Iron Fist" | ||
| BB | Giullian Yao Gioiello | |||
| Ryhno | Jason Lai | |||
| Torx | Jowin Marie Batoon | "The City's Not for Burning" | ||
| Hex | Sydney Mae Diaz | |||
| Sherry Yang | Christine Toy Johnson | |||
| Sam Chung | James C. Chen | |||
| Chen Wu | Fernando Chien | |||
Daniel "Danny" Rand / Iron Fist (portrayed by Finn Jones) is a billionaire Buddhist monk and martial artist proficient in kung-fu, with the ability to call upon the mystical power of the Iron Fist.
Jones described the character as "someone struggling to find his identity", and identified with the character's loneliness being an orphan like Rand. He noted that "Danny gets really stressed and really pissed off sometimes, and I understand ... [his] optimism and where that comes from." In preparation for the role, Jones studied kung fu, wushu, and tai chi, along with weight training, Buddhist philosophy, and meditation. Toby Nichols portrays a young Danny Rand.
Colleen Wing (portrayed by Jessica Henwick), a bushido master, is sensei of Chikara Dojo in New York City, and is integral to Daniel Rand's reintegration into society, foiling an attempt by Ward Meacham to have Rand indefinitely committed to Birch Psychiatric Hospital.
Henwick felt the most defining word for Wing was "alone", saying, "She doesn't want to be anyone's love interest and open herself up in that way." Henwick also tried "to pull out that sort of very dry humor that [Wing] has, and that no bullshit New Yorker demeanor" from the comics version in her portrayal.
Ward Meachum (portrayed by Tom Pelphrey) is the son of Harold and childhood acquaintance of Rand, whose work building up Rand Enterprises with his sister Joy is threatened to be undone with Rand's return.
Ward is a character from the comics, but with altered familial connections. As Pelphrey noted, "we're not necessarily beholden to representing him [in the series] exactly as he appears in the comic book." Stroup said that Ward would experience some "male angst" on Rand's return, because "Ward would have been the one who picked on [Rand] when he was little so as pure and innocent and great as Iron Fist is, he comes in and he causes some problems" there. Ilan Eskenazi portrays a teenage Ward Meachum.
Joy Meachum (portrayed by Jessica Stroup) is the daughter of Harold and childhood acquaintance of Rand, whose work building up Rand Enterprises with her brother Ward is threatened to be undone with Rand's return.
Stroup said that Joy "absolutely loves" Rand, and his return to New York is "like this rebirth of what she once was, and she gets to ask these questions about herself because he's posing them to her." Stroup said that Joy would initially be unsure whether Rand is who he says he is. Aimee Laurence portrays a young Joy Meachum.
Bakuto (portrayed by Ramón Rodríguez) is a leader of a faction of The Hand and Colleen Wing's sensei.
Bakuto at first appears to be a benevolent person, aiding Danny Rand in his abilities and showing him footage of the previous Iron Fist, but soon it becomes apparent that he wishes to use Danny for his own purposes and especially has plans for the Meachums. After shooting Joy Meachum, he and his men take Danny, but end up fighting him along with Colleen and Davos. Bakuto battles Colleen with swords, but he is stabbed by his former pupil. Colleen refuses to kill Bakuto, so Davos does it for her. His body then disappears. Colleen assumes that Bakuto's people took it, but Danny recalls that Harold Meachum managed to come back from the dead.
Davos (portrayed by Sacha Dhawan) is a skilled martial artist who is the son of Lei Kung and Rand's former best friend in K'un-Lun, who grew envious when Rand became the Iron Fist.
Although Dhawan first appeared in the ninth episode of the first season, Dhawan noted that the majority of Davos' storyline was intended to be explored in the second season.
See main article: Claire Temple (Marvel Cinematic Universe).
Claire Temple (portrayed by Rosario Dawson) is a former nurse from Hell's Kitchen who joins Wing's dojo.
Dawson reprises her role from previous Marvel Netflix series.
Harold Meachum (portrayed by David Wenham) is a ruthless corporate leader and co-founder of Rand Enterprises who was partners with Rand's parents at the time of their deaths.
Regarding Harold's relationship with his children, Joy and Ward, Wenham said the dynamic between the three of them "is complex, to say the least. It's multilayered, it's multidimensional, it's surprising and it's forever changing, depending on the circumstances."
Mercedes "Misty" Knight (portrayed by Simone Missick) is a Harlem NYPD Detective with a strong sense of justice, and an ally of Rand and Wing.
Missick reprises her role from previous Marvel Netflix series.[1]
Mary Walker (portrayed by Alice Eve) is a woman with a split personality.
Eve was cast in the role in December 2017.
The following is a list of guest characters that have recurring roles throughout the series. The characters are listed by the MCU media or season in which they first appeared.
Darryl (portrayed by Marquis Rodriguez) is a student at Wing's dojo. Rodriguez reprises his role from Luke Cage.
Gao (portrayed by Wai Ching Ho) is an accomplished woman and former ally of Wilson Fisk with her own heroin trade in Hell's Kitchen who has connections with The Hand. Ho reprises her role from Daredevil.
Wendell Rand (portrayed by David Furr) is Danny's father and co-founder of Rand Enterprises.
Megan (portrayed by Barrett Doss) is a secretary to Danny Rand and the Meachums at Rand Enterprises.
Kyle (portrayed by Alex Wyse) is Harold Meachum's personal assistant.
Kevin Singleton (portrayed by Ramon Fernandez) is Harold Meachum's loyal bodyguard.
Lawrence Wilkins (portrayed by Clifton Davis) is a member of the Rand Enterprises board of directors.
Donald Hooper (portrayed by John Sanders) is a member of the Rand Enterprises board of directors.
Maria Rodriguez (portrayed by Elise Santora) is a member of the Rand Enterprises board of directors.
Bethany (portrayed by Natalie Smith) is the sponsor of Ward Meachum's NA group and is in a sexual relationship with him.
BB (portrayed by Giullian Yao Gioiello) is a member of Ryhno's gang who becomes sympathizes with Colleen.
Crank (portrayed by Sky Lakota-Lynch) former member of Ryhno's gang. Later becomes the co leader his own cult killing many including BB and Ryhno.
Rhyno (portrayed by Jason Lai) is the leader of the local China Town district gang.
Torx (portrayed by Jowin Marie Batoon) is a member of Ryhno's gang.
Hex (portrayed by Sydney Mae Diaz) is a member of Ryhno's gang.
Sherry Yang (portrayed by Christine Toy Johnson) is the wife of Hai-Qing Yang. She becomes the leader of the Yangsi Gonshi following her husband's death.
Sam Chung (portrayed by James Chen) is a member of Bayard and a friend of Colleen Wing.
Chen Wu (portrayed by Fernando Chien) is a high-ranking member of the Golden Tigers. Based on the comic character who appeared in Iron Fist #8 (October 1976).
The following is a supplementary list of guest stars that appear in lesser roles or make significant cameo appearances. The characters are listed by the MCU media or season in which they first appeared.
Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance through an on-set photograph, the same seen in previous Marvel Netflix series, as NYPD Captain Irving Forbush.