Has Netflix’s Iron Fist found its lead?

 

With Daredevil coming to Netflix this year, and AKA Jessica Jones rumored for either 2015 or 2016, I’m getting antsy for any news of the forthcoming Luke Cage and Iron Fist series coming to Netflix. That’s why I’m so excited to hear the rumors that Alain Moussi is rumored to be in the running for the role of Danny Rand, or half of the Heroes for Hire duo, Iron Fist.

The name Alain Moussi isn’t likely to ring any bells unless you’re following the remake of Van Damme’s Kickboxer, titled Kickboxer: Vengeance. Moussi is no stranger to Hollywood, however, and has done stuntwork for such films as Pacific Rim, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and White House Down. This rumor stems from an ominous Facebook post by the martial artist, seen below:

Untested as a leading man, Moussi is set to helm the previously mentioned Kickboxer: Vengeance, where he will play the character Kurt Sloan who was originally portrayed by none other than Jean-Claude Van Damme. JCVD will also make an appearance in the reboot as Moussi’s mentor. This is his first outing as a leading man, and it seems odd that Marvel would go with a relative unknown for one of their newest efforts. While Moussi holds several black belts and is undoubtedly a skilled stunt man, this doesn’t necessarily translate into acting ability.

All this begs the question: Is Moussi actually in the running to play Iron Fist? I’d have to say it’s not likely. Marvel tends to go for star power for their blockbuster movies, and are continuing this trend with their Netflix series (albeit not with A-listers, but recognizable names at least). Additionally, Moussi’s experience as a stuntman make him a great candidate to do Iron Fist’s fight scenes, but not necessarily his dialogue. This post is most probably in reference to the character’s fighting style than lore. However, there’s also the chance that Marvel is looking to find some hidden talent in Moussi, just as they did with Dave Bautista in The Guardians of the Galaxy. Either way, I’m excited to hear about the Iron Fist show moving forward.

Marvel’s first Netflix show, Daredevil, is set to air March 10, with the four series converging to create The Defenders sometime in the future.