Created in the 1970s to capitalize on the Bruce Lee-era vogue for martial arts films, Iron Fist has proven to have a surprisingly resilient foothold in the Marvel Universe. He’s got a groovy retro costume, somewhat silly powers, an epic backstory which involves killing a dragon: He’s a supporting player, a Toni Kukoc to Captain America’s Michael Jordan. But we’re entering the second decade of superhero cinema. Spider-Man is starting over. Fox is prepping a movie that might as well be called X-Men: Everybody We Couldn’t Fit Into The First Four Movies. And now, according to Deadline, Iron Fist is getting his very own movie.
Marvel Studios had no comment on the production, but according to the report, screenwriter Rich Wilkes has been hired to adapt the story of Danny Rand to the big screen. Wilkes is best known for writing xXx and…well, he wrote xXx! It seems like a strange time to kickstart a martial arts movie — the genre seemed to cycle back into purgatory, at least in America, somewhere between House of Flying Daggers and Curse of the Golden Flower — but Iron Fist came up pretty often in the comments board of my “What Marvel Superhero should get a TV Show” post, so maybe there’s an underground fan base ready to emerge.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Can this fringe superhero own a movie of his own? Or would they be better off going for an Avengers-lite Hero for Hire movie? And is there any other B-list superhero you think should get the big-screen treatment?
I think it would work better with him and Luke Cage but any character cann be turned into a good film with decent writing.
Also, whilst American superhero movies tend not to make as big a % of their gross outside of America as other big movies I don’t think a perceived lack of interest in Martial arts movies in America is a massive problem when the rest of the world still loves them.
It’s nonsense anyway, The Karate Kid allone proves that, and other kung fu movies have been doing fine recently too.
I’d second the idea of a “Power Man & Iron Fist” team-up. Solo movies for both have been stalled in development for years. Putting these two characters together would be an easier sell. And I think America is definitely ready for a new martial arts star. He (or she) just needs to have real skillz. Fight scenes that are all created in post-production won’t cut it!
This news makes me moist, down there!
Australia?
I read Iron Fist briefly. You could say a small fan. Luke Cage,Black Panther i think it’s time. All would be good fits coming from the Marvel Universe.
Michael Turner’s “Fathom” has long been considered as a possible comic book-turned-movie (even underwater enthusiast James Cameron was supposedly interested). I’d like to see Fathom, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and Broadway Comics’ “Fatale” (how’s THAT for obscure?) made into movies. Studios have been hesitant to greenlight solo female superhero adaptations, however (we can probably blame the flop “Elektra” for this), so the Flash probably has the best shot at eventually making it to multiplexes, although (ironically) not too quickly.
This character was long discussed as a potential vehicle for Ray Park (darth maul) but nothing came of it.
ray parks wasnt the first choice to play iron man jean claude van damme after he did Timecop but it became a stalled project
Ray Park would still be perfect.
Moon Knight, oh, PLEASE, Moon Knight!!!
Iron Fist was beaten to death by a child, who absorbed his powers, in “Power-Man and Iron Fist” No. 125, back in the mid-1980s. I presume he has had a resurrection, though. Yeah, bring in Power-Man, the crop of superhero films thus far have played as white as Glenn Back.
An Iron Fist movie done right, with or without Power Man, could be an excellent movie. But I’ve been waiting for them to get the Punisher right for years now…
good luck getting someone who can act AND do martial arts amazingly without any shaky cams and chop cutting.
Oh yeah. Power Man & Iron Fist would be a fantastic idea. Having them play off one another and supplying contrasting personalities and abilities is a must!
A non martial artist can be used as long as he’s well trained.
Cloak and Dagger would be cool….
I never got into the Marvel Kung Fu guys. Rather see Antman (the current kinda rude incarnation) or maybe Black Panther. For teams, how about Runaways or (for kids) Power Pack.
i love this, he was my favorite superhero growing up!
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