New ‘Iron Fist’ photos highlight Marvel’s next Netflix TV show

Finn Jones as Danny Rand, The Immortal Iron Fist. Photos: Marvel

Marvel and Netflix have brought us some of the best comic book shows in recent TV history. “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones,” and “Luke Cage,” and their grittier, more realistic take on the Marvel universe, have won over countless fans who are only too eager to see what else these connected properties have in store for them.

The answer to that, of course, is “Marvel’s Iron Fist,” the fourth series in what would eventually become “The Defenders” – an “Avengers” like ensemble consisting of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist.

To promote “Marvel’s Iron Fist,” which is coming this March 2017, Marvel and Netflix have shared four new photos, which appear to be stills from the show.

“Marvel’s Iron Fist” tells the story of one of Marvel’s more obscure martial arts-themed superheroes. It revolves around Danny Rand (Finn Jones), who has the ability to draw on mystical powers to become Iron Fist. When he isn’t busy punching bad guys in the face, he’s a billionaire and a Buddhist monk. Like another, more popular billionaire vigilante, Rand was orphaned at a young age, and was then trained to become a human fighting machine.

Rand returns to New York City after 15 years to take back Rand Enterprises, which was his father’s company, from a certain Harold Meachum, who is played by David Wenham. Meachum and his children, Ward (Tom Pelphrey) and Joy (Jessica Stroup), will, naturally, resist Rand’s takeover.

To make matters more complicated, The Hand makes its presence known in the city, pushing Rand to seek allies in the fight against the evil ninja order. This puts him on the same path as Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick), who owns a martial arts dojo, and everyone’s favorite nurse, Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson). In addition, Carrie-Anne Moss, whom we last saw in “Marvel’s Jessica Jones,” will reprise her role as the tough-as-nails lawyer Jeri Hogarth.

One image (above) pictures Rand and Wing in what could be the latter’s dojo. The others focus Wing; Meachum’s children, Joy and Ward; and the heroic trio of Rand, Wing, and Temple.

Finn Jones as Danny Rand with Jessica Henwick (Colleen Wing) and Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple)

Jessica Stroup and Tom Pelphrey as Joy and Ward Meachum

Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing

For awarding the lead role of Iron Fist to a white male actor, “Marvel’s Iron Fist” has drawn the ire of some comic book fans. With the character’s backstory leaning heavily upon Asian traditions and history, the show’s detractors feel it would have been more appropriate to cast an Asian actor in the role. Criticisms were also leveled against the Netflix/Marvel series’ continued casting of Asians in the stereotypical and faceless roles of ninja villains (who fall too easily to white heroes).

Filming on the 13-episode first season of “Marvel’s Iron Fist” is already finished.

The show will be followed by “The Defenders” and “The Punisher,” also to premiere on Netflix in 2017. New seasons of “Daredevil,” “Jessica Jones,” and “Luke Cage” are planned, but details about there are scant at the moment. — BM, GMA News