Last week it was announced that actor Charlie Cox (Boardwalk Empire, Stardust, etc.) has been cast by Marvel to star as Matt Murdock in their Daredevil series for Netfilx. In addition to Daredevil, there will also be series for AKA Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage, which will all culminate in a Defenders mini-series event.
This announcement comes on the heels of the news that writer/director/producer Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods) had dropped out to focus on the Sinister Six film, and that Steven S. DeKnight (Sparticus, Smallville, Angel) has stepped in to take over the position of Show-runner. It should be noted that Drew’s exit was not on bad terms and that he is still staying on as a consulting producer. Steven seems like a phenomenal choice to me as the guy has proven he can craft action and drama together perfectly. Plus, he already has history with Joss Whedon and, since these Marvel/Netflix series take place in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), I feel like he’ll a very good grasp of how to fit this new piece of the puzzle in with the epic picture already unfolding.
Back in November when the Marvel/Netflix shows were announced, I wrote this piece and included some fan-casting ideas. I was half right on Daredevil. I fan-casted (I just made that word up) Michael C. Hall as Daredevil, because I really like him as an actor, but I guessed that they’d “probably go with someone younger”. I was right. (You may all bow down before my superior intellect!)
Time will tell on my fan-casting choices for Jessica Jones, Iron Fist/Danny Rand, and Luke Cage, but realistically those are all probably way off too. That’s the thing about fan-casting; It’s just fun speculation. You can’t put too much stock in it.
Show-runner’s are typically less speculated about. Most people are way more concerned with who will play the character they love than they are with who will be in control of the creative direction. When it comes to these shows, regardless of who runs each individual series, I hope they keep DeKnight on as an producer all the way through to the Defenders series, because the guy has a lot of experience with long-running plot-lines and complex stories. I feel like he’d be able to keep it all cohesive without letting the stories get mundane.
But, how about those other shows? I mean who out there has the talent and know-how to put together Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage, and Iron Fist? Honestly, I have no idea. There is one thing I have a suggestion on though (like Marvel gives a s–t what I think)…
RZA should absolutely direct Iron Fist, if only just a few episodes.
For those of you unfamiliar, RZA is a rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. But, he’s also an accomplished actor and filmmaker.
Specifically, the dude knows his Kung-Fu movies and culture, and he’s got a great grasp on how to blend it with the supernatural. He’s already made a movie called “The Man with the Iron Fist”. There’s no connection between that film and Marvel’s Iron Fist, but my point is that they want to hire people with fresh vision, who can effectively capture the genre that these specific characters fit into, and I can’t think of another current filmmaker who knows the Kung-Fu genre better than RZA. I mean, I’m sure there are a lot of great Asian filmmakers out there who would be just as qualified to direct Iron Fist (Wilson Yip, who made the IP Man films, comes to mind), but I still feel like RZA’s style and ability to think outside the box sets him apart.
At the very least, if Marvel ever decides to make a Shang-Chi: Master of Kung-Fu movie, or TV show, RZA definitely needs to be involved.
So what do you nerds think? Any filmmakers come to mind that you feel could take on these awesome characters? Let us know!