Trailer: Netflix’s Heroes Team Up in Defenders. Even, Um, Iron Fist

Just when you were beginning to think it might just be a hoax, Netflix released a trailer for its Marvel crossover mini-series The Defenders. Set to a syrup-slow rendition of Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” (they’re casual, edgy heroes, get it?), it’s exactly what you expect from a big ol’ superhero team-up trailer. Except, in addition to all the face-punching, this one also is acknowledging that at least one of its heroes ain’t so super.

Any guesses? Just kidding! It’s Iron Fist. After a critical and cultural winning streak that spanned Daredevil to Jessica Jones to Luke Cage, Netflix’s Marvel offerings finally hit a snag with its Iron Fist adaptation, which amid terrible reviews and accusations of whitewashing managed to go from a huge premiere week to losing losing its audience faster than any of its predecessors.

And in the Defenders trailer, Danny Rand’s (Finn Jones) compatriots seems to know this. When he first meets Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and proclaims, “I’m the immortal Iron Fist,” Cage’s incredulous response is “you’re what?” (No one told Rand the forecast was cloudy with a chance of shade.) And when Daredevil’s mentor Stick (Scott Glenn) describes the new superhero team, Daredevil (Charlie Cox) gets called “the devil of Hell’s Kitchen,” Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is “the smartass detective,” Cage is “the righteous ex-con” … and Rand is “the kid with the glowing fist.” (Even when it’s shady, you can still get burned.)

When it’s not taking barely veiled swipes at Iron Fist, the trailer plays up all the things Netflix knows people love about its Marvel shows: Jones mouthing off to cops, Cage (self-)righteously kicking ass, and promise of a post-Avengers “war for New York.” That last bit includes Sigourney Weaver’s Alexandra, who—despite the fact that she turns around as Kurt Cobain sings “known enemy”—is a total mystery. Who cares? Ripley is in the MCU now—this is gonna be fun.

And really, with all that going on, Iron Fist’s presence in The Defenders, which starts streaming August 18, shouldn’t weigh anything down. Thanks to Jessica Jones, we already know Jones and Cage have chemistry. And Rosario Dawson’s Claire Temple always provides relief—comedic, medical, or otherwise. There’s a lot going on in this trailer, but most of it shows promise. Iron Fist’s fate was unfortunate, but also bound to happen—no team plays perfectly for four straight quarters. But at least now they’re back to avenge their fourth-quarter meltdown.



[WIRED]