Rumors about Iron Fist and Luke Cage potentially returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe were reignited after actor Finn Jones shared a cryptic photo on social media. However, enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the much-anticipated Marvel team-up may have jumped to conclusions based on the image.
Finn Jones initially portrayed Danny Rand, also known as Iron Fist, in the character's standalone Netflix series, while Mike Colter first embodied Luke Cage in Krysten Ritter's show Jessica Jones before headlining his own Marvel production. These three series, alongside Daredevil, were part of Netflix's strategy to culminate in The Defenders, a crossover event uniting Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage to combat a common menace in New York City. Regrettably, the individual series were short-lived following the conclusion of The Defenders. Netflix axed each show and eventually removed them from its platform, leaving fans pondering whether these characters would ever transition into the broader MCU.
Subsequently, Charlie Cox's Daredevil and numerous supporting characters from his series have seamlessly transitioned into the MCU, fueling hopes among fans that the other Defenders might follow suit. Recently, Finn Jones posted a snapshot on his Instagram Stories showcasing the contents of his travel bag, prominently featuring a Power Man and Iron Fist comic. This led fans to speculate that Finn Jones could be teasing his return as Iron Fist, potentially alongside Mike Colter's Luke Cage. While neither Finn Jones nor Marvel Studios has definitively confirmed or denied his reprisal, insider MyTimeToShineHello stated that the actor would not be revisiting his role as Iron Fist in the MCU.
For those unfamiliar, Power Man and Iron Fist was a Marvel Comics series launched to rescue both characters from cancellation when their individual comics faced viability issues. While hints of this alliance were present in the interactions between Iron Fist and Luke Cage in Netflix's Marvel series, many fans felt that there was a missed opportunity to address social issues by juxtaposing Danny Rand's privileged upbringing with Luke Cage's background as a reformed criminal combating injustice in Harlem. Despite Iron Fist failing to meet fan expectations, some were willing to attribute the show's negative reception to subpar writing rather than Finn Jones' performance and were open to his potential return to the MCU, especially if it meant witnessing a faithful comic-inspired team-up with Luke Cage.
Nonetheless, Finn Jones might simply be perusing Power Man and Iron Fist for entertainment purposes rather than as a research endeavor. Nevertheless, fans can be forgiven for potentially overanalyzing a photograph. This isn't the first instance where an actor from Marvel's Netflix productions shared a picture hinting at their MCU comeback. In a similar vein, earlier in January, fans speculated about Jessica Jones' return to the MCU when Krysten Ritter posted a photo of herself donning a t-shirt akin to her character's attire. Hence, enthusiasts are eagerly grasping at any glimmer of hope for the resurgence of their beloved Defenders characters.
Iron Fist is now streaming on Disney Plus.
Source: Finn Jones, MyTimeToShineHello