Daniel "Danny" Rand / Iron Fist (portrayed byFinn Jones) is a billionaireBuddhist monk and martial artist proficient in kung-fu, with the ability to call upon the mystical power of the Iron Fist.[1][2][3]
Jones described the character as "someone struggling to find his identity",[4] and identified with the character's loneliness being an orphan like Rand.[5][4] He noted that "Danny gets really stressed and really pissed off sometimes, and I understandthat ... [his] optimism and where that comes from."[4] In preparation for the role, Jones studiedkung fu, wushu, andtai chi, along with weight training,Buddhist philosophy, andmeditation.[6] Toby Nichols portrays a young Danny Rand.[7]
Colleen Wing (portrayed byJessica Henwick), abushido master, is sensei of Chikara Dojo in New York City,[8] 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."[9] 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.[10]
Ward Meachum (portrayed byTom 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.[11]
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."[12] 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.[13] Ilan Eskenazi portrays a teenage Ward Meachum.[14]
Joy Meachum (portrayed byJessica 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.[11]
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.[13] Aimee Laurence portrays a young Joy Meachum.
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 bySacha 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.[16]
Harold Meachum (portrayed byDavid 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.[18]
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."[12]
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.
Gao (portrayed byWai Ching Ho) is an accomplished woman and former ally ofWilson Fisk with her own heroin trade in Hell's Kitchen who has connections with The Hand. Ho reprises her role fromDaredevil.[24]
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.
Chen Wu (portrayed byFernando Chien) is a high-ranking member of theGolden Tigers. Based on the comic character who appeared inIron Fist #8 (October 1976).
The following is a supplementary list of guest stars that appear in lesser roles or make significantcameo appearances. The characters are listed by the MCU media or season in which they first appeared.
Jeri Hogarth (portrayed byCarrie-Anne Moss; first appears in season one): An attorney who helps Rand once he returns to New York.[28] Loeb noted that "Carrie-Anne obviously lives in a different kind of world [from the optimistic Danny], and so being able to see those two worlds collide is just the beginning of the many obstacles that he goes through."[29]
Shirley Benson (portrayed by Suzanne H. Smart; first appears in season one): An administrator at Metro-General Hospital and Temple's former boss.
Donnie Chang (portrayed by Andrew Pang; first appears in season two): A detective of the NYPD's 29th Precinct working undercover as a Golden Tiger gang member.
Turk Barrett (portrayed byRob Morgan; first appears in season two): A minor criminal who sells guns.
Heather Rand (portrayed by Victoria Haynes): Danny's mother.[14]
Shannon (portrayed by Esau Pritchett[31]): The chief of security at Rand Enterprises who is loyal to Ward Meachum.
Paul Edmonds (portrayed byMurray Bartlett): A psychiatrist at the mental hospital where Rand is first sent.[14] Based on the comic character who appeared inThe Avengers #227 (January 1983).
Caleb (portrayed by Donte Grey): A student at Wing's dojo.
Craig Geraghty as the ringmaster of an underground fight club.[14]
Hai-Qing Yang (portrayed byHenry Yuk): The leader of the Yangsi Gonshi triad whose pier was bought out by Joy Meachum.[14]
Becca Woo (portrayed by Samantha Herrera): One of Wing's students who trains to become a doctor with the help of The Hand.
Jim Pierce (portrayed byJay Hieron): One of the fighters that Colleen Wing takes on in the cage match.[32]
Radovan Bernivig (portrayed byOlek Krupa): A chemist who creates a synthetic heroin used by The Hand.[14]
Sandi Ann (portrayed by Shirine Babb): A Rand Enterprises employee who helps Danny with lab work.
Sophia (portrayed byJeanna de Waal): A sales representative for The Hand at Rand Enterprises, selling their synthetic heroin throughout New York.[14]
Lei Kung (portrayed byHoon Lee): Rand's mentor in K'un-Lun and Davos' father.[33]
Andrei Veznikov (portrayed by Nikita Bogolyubov): A Russian butcher who fights with his brother Grigori for The Hand.[14]
Grigori Veznikov (portrayed by Stan Demidoff): A Russian butcher who fights with his brother Andrei for The Hand.[14]
Bride of Nine Spiders (portrayed by Jane Kim): Anarachnologist warrior who fights for The Hand.[34] Based on the comic character who first appeared inThe Immortal Iron Fist #8 (October 2007).
Scythe (portrayed byDavid Sakurai): A skilled Japanese mercenary who fights for The Hand.[35] Based on the comic character who appeared inMarvel Premiere #16 (July 1974).
Zhou Cheng (portrayed byLewis Tan): A servant of Ch'i-Lin who is tasked to protect Madame Gao's heroin factory inAnzhou,China. He proficiently uses the Drunken Fist martial art style. Tan originally auditioned for the role of Danny Rand.[36]
Stan Lee makes a cameo appearance through an on-set photograph, the same seen in previous Marvel Netflix series,[37] asNYPD CaptainIrving Forbush.[38]
.jpg)
.jpg)
