Iron Fist Rumored to Make MCU Debut in Black Panther: Eyes of Wakanda
A new rumor suggests that the Netflix Marvel hero, Iron Fist, will make his MCU debut in the animated series Black Panther: Eyes of Wakanda. This comes after a disappointing run in the Netflix series and the loss of rights to the character by the streaming service. Fans are eager to see how the crossover will occur and which version of Iron Fist will be featured in the MCU.
The Disappointing Run of Iron Fist
The Iron Fist character may get a chance at redemption in the MCU animated series Black Panther: Eyes of Wakanda after a disappointing run in Netflix's two-season Iron Fist series. Iron Fist came to Netflix in 2017 under a license from Disney; however, the show was panned by audiences and critics alike for lacking originality and momentum. Netflix soon followed up with The Defenders miniseries, which also failed to connect with audiences, and the streaming service lost its rights to the characters. Still, there were many die-hard fans of the Iron Fist series, and audiences were left wondering what would come of the superhero.
Danny Rand wearing the classic Iron Fist headband in season 2 of Iron Fist
According to a recent post from trusted internet scooper @CanWeGetToast (via Comicbookmovie.com) the beloved martial arts master will make his MCU debut in an animated series from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler titled Eyes of Wakanda. This is not the first rumor to indicate a previously failed IP getting a second chance in animated form, as buzz about an Eternals show has been circulating. Little else has been revealed about the upcoming Black Panther series, other than it's anthology format and the brief logline: 'Throughout Wakandan history, brave warriors have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts. This is their story.'
The Crossover and MCU Debut
How the crossover will occur and which version of Iron Fist will be in the MCU remains a mystery. Many fans think the short synopsis is in reference to the daughters of the eighteen tribes of Wakanda, otherwise known as the Dora Milaje, who also appeared in Winter Soldier. Others have pointed out a possible team-up moment from the Wakanda-based comics, in which Black Panther frees Iron Fist from Chiantang's control, and the two heroes join forces to defeat the Black Dragon.
Danny Rand fans may be disappointed, however, as the upcoming series is said to be an anthology focusing on different characters who hold the Black Panther mantle, and therefore may feature entirely different actors in these roles. Marvel Studios may use the series to test out a new Iron Fist concept before launching the character into a full-blown movie. Although this rumored appearance will be animated, the studio does seem to be setting the stage for a live-action MCU return of The Defenders. The expected comeback of Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones, and Charlie Cox's Daredevil cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, have left fans wondering how this new Iron Fist will fit in.
Implications and Speculations
The introduction of Iron Fist may pave the way for a subsequent Luke Cage return, and a possible MCU Heroes for Hire spin-off. The fact that the series is an anthology will put Eyes of Wakanda in the same category as Marvel's beloved What If...?, and may turn out to be a good strategy for the struggling studio to test different versions of these characters in order to see what resonates with fans before committing to hundred-million-dollar blockbusters. Ryan Coogler's involvement also bodes well for the upcoming show, which may arrive in 2024. Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are streaming on Disney+.
