As DC Comics is heavily stepping up its expanded cinematic universe game, it seems that rival Marvel has actually been listening to critics and subsequently cast a woman of color in a superhero role on their upcoming Netflix exclusive series. Entertainment Weekly was the first to announce that British-Singaporean Chinese actress Jessica Henwick (who you might know from her smaller roles in HBO's Game of Thrones as Nymeria Sand and Star Wars: The Force Awakens as pilot Jessika Pava) has just signed on to play Colleen Wing, a martial arts expert, in the upcoming adaptation of Iron Fist.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Henwick's character, Colleen Wing will run her own dojo in New York City and star opposite the eponymous character Iron Fist (aka Danny Rand), played by fellow British Game of Thrones alumni Finn Jones (who plays Loras Tyrell on the show). This is the third installation in Marvel's Netflix original programming alongside last year's Jessica Jones and Daredevil, which just premiered its second season.
While not many details of the plot have been revealed, we know that Danny Rand is a native New Yorker who returns to the city after being missing for several years and learns an ancient form of martial arts with the assistance of Colleen Wing. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb summarized the show. “[Iron Fist] fights against the criminal element corrupting New York City with his incredible kung-fu mastery and ability to summon the awesome power of the fiery Iron Fist.”
