The push for Netflix to cast an Asian American as the lead in Marvel’s Iron Fist continues to gain momentum with coverage by such publications as the Hollywood Reporter and Mary Sue.
The campaign launched by the blog site Nerds of Color early last year picked up steam this month with the announcement that Scott Buck had been hired as the showrunner.
#AAIronFist has been adopted by fans as the hashtag to use to support the campaign.
Our asian brothers and sister deserve representation in media just as much as we do and I’ll go just as hard for them #AAIronFist
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) December 12, 2015
.@THR @TheNerdsofColor It would also make @Marvel & @netflix more AMERICAN! #AAIronFist
— RealMericans (@RealMericans) December 12, 2015
#aaironfist tag is so awesome, so glad so many people are down for an Asian American Danny Rand ?@TheNerdsofColorpic.twitter.com/t4uUgoqugc
— Yoshi Sudarso (@Yoshistunts) December 11, 2015
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Netflix actually met with Asian American actors to discuss the possibility of playing the lead, but with Buck announced as the showrunner, reportedly the show is now leaning towards casting a White actor.
The Iron Fist is a martial arts warrior with super powers. His alter ego is Daniel Rand who learned his martial arts and supernatural skills while being raised in the alternate-dimension city of K’un-L’un.
You can read three reasons why Daniel should be played by an Asian American in the Hollywood Reporter.