Main characters
Danny Rand / Iron Fist
Daniel "Danny" Rand / Iron Fist (portrayed by Finn Jones) is a billionaire Buddhist monk and martial artist proficient in kung-fu, with the ability to call upon the mystical power of the Iron Fist. [1] [2] [3]
Jones described the character as "someone struggling to find his identity", [4] and identified with the character's loneliness being an orphan like Rand. [5] [4] He noted that "Danny gets really stressed and really pissed off sometimes, and I understand that ... [his] optimism and where that comes from." [4] In preparation for the role, Jones studied kung fu, wushu, and tai chi, along with weight training, Buddhist philosophy, and meditation. [6] Toby Nichols portrays a young Danny Rand. [7]
Colleen Wing
Colleen Wing (portrayed by Jessica Henwick), a bushido master, is sensei of Chikara Dojo in New York City, [8] and is integral to Daniel Rand's reintegration into society, foiling an attempt by Ward Meacham to have Rand indefinitely committed to Birch Psychiatric Hospital.
Henwick felt the most defining word for Wing was "alone", saying, "She doesn't want to be anyone's love interest and open herself up in that way." [9] Henwick also tried "to pull out that sort of very dry humor that [Wing] has, and that no bullshit New Yorker demeanor" from the comics version in her portrayal. [10]
Ward Meachum
Ward Meachum (portrayed by Tom Pelphrey) is the son of Harold and childhood acquaintance of Rand, whose work building up Rand Enterprises with his sister Joy is threatened to be undone with Rand's return. [11]
Ward is a character from the comics, but with altered familial connections. As Pelphrey noted, "we're not necessarily beholden to representing him [in the series] exactly as he appears in the comic book." [12] Stroup said that Ward would experience some "male angst" on Rand's return, because "Ward would have been the one who picked on [Rand] when he was little so as pure and innocent and great as Iron Fist is, he comes in and he causes some problems" there. [13] Ilan Eskenazi portrays a teenage Ward Meachum. [14]
Joy Meachum
Joy Meachum (portrayed by Jessica Stroup) is the daughter of Harold and childhood acquaintance of Rand, whose work building up Rand Enterprises with her brother Ward is threatened to be undone with Rand's return. [11]
Stroup said that Joy "absolutely loves" Rand, and his return to New York is "like this rebirth of what she once was, and she gets to ask these questions about herself because he's posing them to her." Stroup said that Joy would initially be unsure whether Rand is who he says he is. [13] Aimee Laurence portrays a young Joy Meachum.
Bakuto
Bakuto (portrayed by Ramón Rodríguez) is a leader of a faction of The Hand and Colleen Wing's sensei. [15]
Bakuto at first appears to be a benevolent person, aiding Danny Rand in his abilities and showing him footage of the previous Iron Fist, but soon it becomes apparent that he wishes to use Danny for his own purposes and especially has plans for the Meachums. After shooting Joy Meachum, he and his men take Danny, but end up fighting him along with Colleen and Davos. Bakuto battles Colleen with swords, but he is stabbed by his former pupil. Colleen refuses to kill Bakuto, so Davos does it for her. His body then disappears. Colleen assumes that Bakuto's people took it, but Danny recalls that Harold Meachum managed to come back from the dead.
Davos
Davos (portrayed by Sacha Dhawan) is a skilled martial artist who is the son of Lei Kung and Rand's former best friend in K'un-Lun, who grew envious when Rand became the Iron Fist.
Although Dhawan first appeared in the ninth episode of the first season, Dhawan noted that the majority of Davos' storyline was intended to be explored in the second season. [16]
Claire Temple
Claire Temple (portrayed by Rosario Dawson) is a former nurse from Hell's Kitchen who joins Wing's dojo.
Dawson reprises her role from previous Marvel Netflix series. [17]
Harold Meachum
Harold Meachum (portrayed by David Wenham) is a ruthless corporate leader and co-founder of Rand Enterprises who was partners with Rand's parents at the time of their deaths. [18]
Regarding Harold's relationship with his children, Joy and Ward, Wenham said the dynamic between the three of them "is complex, to say the least. It's multilayered, it's multidimensional, it's surprising and it's forever changing, depending on the circumstances." [12]
Misty Knight
Mercedes "Misty" Knight (portrayed by Simone Missick) is a Harlem NYPD Detective with a strong sense of justice, and an ally of Rand and Wing. [19]
Missick reprises her role from previous Marvel Netflix series. [20]
Mary Walker
Mary Walker (portrayed by Alice Eve) is a woman with a split personality. [21]
Eve was cast in the role in December 2017. [22]
