While the feature side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still lacking when it comes to female characters, the company’s efforts on the small screen are far more applause-worthy. The upcoming Netflix action-drama Iron Fist just cast its first female lead, as Game of Thrones actress Jessica Henwick has been added as the titular hero’s ally Colleen Wing.
Jessica Henwick is currently best known for playing Nymeria Sand on Game of Thrones, which already gives her a step up on roles where badassery is a prerequisite. As the comic character Colleen, Henwick will be an important and invaluable asset to Danny Rand has he returns to New York City on a mission to take down all things corrupt and evil. We can probably look forward to seeing some heavy duty fight sequences involving these characters, as Colleen is also a martial arts expert. Marvel reports she runs her own dojo, too, so she probably knows quite a few people who wouldn’t mind throwing down in a kung fu brawl.
Interestingly, Henwick isn’t the first Game of Thrones cast member to get added here, as Iron Fist himself, Finn Jones, is well-known for playing the Knight of Flowers Ser Loras Tyrell on the HBO epic. Does that mean we’ll soon see actor Peter Dinklage cast as the villainous Steel Serpent or Lena Headey as a gender-swapped Lei Kung? Probably not, but that would make for some fun conversations.
Colleen Wing, who first appeared in the comics in 1974, grew up in Japan and learned the skills of the samurai from her grandfather. She connected with Iron Fist after her father discovered that the hero would be coming to New York to get revenge for his father’s murder, and the two characters worked together in kicking criminals’ asses ever since. Colleen doesn’t have any superpowers, but her fighting talents are numerous, and she knows exactly what to do with her centuries-old katana.
Born in England, Jessica Henwick is possibly familiar to British audiences for her work on the fantasy series Spirit Warriors and the legal drama Silk. Joining Game of Thrones as one of the Sand Snakes was her first big break here in the States, although she was also a small part of Star Wars: The Force Awakens as an X-Wing pilot. She’ll be seen in Season 2 of Fortitude later this year.
Iron Fist still doesn’t have a release date, or even a release window yet. After all, we just got Daredevil Season 2 and the wait is currently on for the freshman season from Luke Cage. But expect more casting news to surface in the coming weeks.
