With Netflix’s release of Jessica Jones, the second of its five planned Marvel series, development is now throttling up on another of its superhero shows. On Monday, Heroic Hollywood’s Umberto Gonzalez reported that a showrunner is now in place for Iron Fist, featuring the company’s famed martial artist with the mystical power to channel his energy into his hand with superhuman force.
Scott Buck, formerly an executive producer and showrunner for Dexter, will be the guiding force for the series, which would likely premiere sometime in 2017. Among the series Buck has also written on are Six Feet Under, Rome and Coach during his career. Marvel soon followed with an official announcement of its own.
Here is something of a synopsis for the series, courtesy of Marvel’s official press release:
“Returning to New York City after being missing for years, Daniel Rand fights against the criminal element corrupting New York City with his incredible kung-fu mastery and ability to summon the awesome power of the fiery Iron Fist.”
Back in July, BIRTH.MOVIES.DEATH’s Devin Faraci reported that Marvel was having trouble figuring out the direction of the series, struggling with the mysticism inherent in the character, along with a more elaborate form of martial arts that would presumably be necessary for the show. The tone is seemingly quite different from the gritty, street-based feel seen in Daredevil and Jessica Jones. There were also rumblings that Marvel was considering pulling the plug on an Iron Fist series, opting for a Netflix movie instead and going with The Punisher (who will appear in season two of Daredevil) as its fourth show.
But Buck’s hiring appears to squelch those rumors. Luke Cage is next on the Netflix docket, spinning off the character introduced in Jessica Jones, played by Mike Colter. Deep into production, that series will likely premiere a year from now, following Daredevil‘s return next spring. Where Netflix goes next is undetermined, but the eventual plan is for the four headlining characters to team up in a final series titled The Defenders, perhaps debuting in 2017.
