A Marvel Cinematic Universe fan has reimagined actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the next Iron Fist.
Artist @clements.ink on Instagram was inspired to create a jaw-dropping piece of fan art depicting the Avengers: Age of Ultron actor as the MCU’s new Danny Rand/Iron Fist after cosplayer and fan @bobbincolin was asked who would make a good replacement for actor Finn Jones from the Netflix series. The cosplayer suggested Taylor-Johnson and @clements.ink responded by designing his likeness in a Marvel Comics-accurate costume including the Defender’s signature bandanna mask, green jumpsuit and glowing gold fists.
MCU Fan Reimagines Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the Next Iron Fist
Created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, Iron Fist made his Marvel debut in the pages of Marvel Premiere #15 (May 1974). The character, called Danny Rand, spent time as a boy in the mystical city of K’un-Lun to train in martial arts. Rather than accept immortality, Danny returns to Earth to avenge the death of his parents using the power of his chi to turn his hands into mystical weapons of iron.
Iron Fist hit the small screen on Netflix in 2017 with Game of Thrones actor Jones as Danny. Unlike the critical praise that previous Marvel Netflix shows like Daredevil and Jessica Jones had enjoyed, reception to the first season of Iron Fist was largely negative despite strong viewership. Critics and audiences panned the series’ storyline and Jones’ performance. Iron Fist Season 2 shifted gears, with Danny losing his chi abilities, which transferred over to his martial artist girlfriend Colleen Wing (Jessica Henwick). The change in the narrative and improved fight sequences were welcomed by critics, but one month after Season 2 was released, Netflix canceled Iron Fist as part of its plan to phase out all Marvel shows.
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Jones previously shared details for a potential Season 3. “I was so excited to get into that,” the actor said. “It really was gonna be about Danny finally assuming the role of the Iron Fist, fully accomplished, fully charged up, and fully in control of his shit, as well. It was gonna be this amazing story [with] Danny and Ward off in foreign lands as a buddy storyline almost. And then, you had Colleen in New York, isolated with this new power, struggling to come to terms with her identity and with this power.”
While there is no official word from Marvel Studios about Iron Fist’s MCU return, Taylor-Johnson will be switching out his Quicksilver role from Age of Ultron to Spider-Man’s game hunter nemesis in Sony’s Kraven the Hunter stand-alone movie, set for release in 2023.