Marvel And Netflix In Talks With Ryan Phillippe; Will The Actor Be The New Iron Fist?

With Marvel and Netflix’s joint TV venture already off to a great start with the smash-hit success of “Daredevil,” the companies are now casting their upcoming miniseries, “The Defenders” -- and it sounds like Ryan Phillippe could be in the mix. The actor let it slip that he's beginning discussions with Marvel.

Speaking on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM radio show Wednesday, the “Secrets and Lies” star revealed that he’s got a meeting on the books with Marvel Studios in the near future. “I’m meeting with… Marvel is interested in talking about Netflix, a series possibly,” he said in the interview.

While “Daredevil” has already wrapped up its first season, its hero is just one small part of a much larger universe that will continue with “A.K.A. Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage” and “Iron Fist,” before they all come together for “The Defenders.” While Krysten Ritter has been cast as Jessica Jones and Mike Colter will bring Luke Cage to life, the fourth hero in the franchise has yet to be given a face. Despite the character being heavily teased in “Daredevil” Season 1, Marvel seems to be dragging its feet on Iron Fist. But Phillippe’s sit-down with the comic book giant may be about him playing that new superhero.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of Phillippe playing Daniel Rand's alter ego, it’s worth mentioning that the actor took to Twitter to dispel speculation that he’s got any information to share other than a scheduled meeting. Marvel will have a host of roles for its five upcoming shows, and the 40-year-old actor could just as easily be in the running for a villain or a supporting role.

But casting Phillippe as Iron First would totally make sense for the series. In the comic books, Daniel Rand is closely tied to the fictional city of K’un-Lun, the place Madame Gao (Wai Ching Ho) alluded to in “Daredevil.” After losing his family, he gains a mystical power and seeks revenge on those who killed them. Eventually he returns to New York City to become a superhero in his own right. Phillippe has yet to reveal when his meeting will be, but odds are Marvel won’t sit on the news of its Iron Fist casting for too long if a deal is struck.

What would you think of Danny Rand being played by the “Secrets and Lies” actor? Comment below or tweet your thoughts to @TylerMcCarthy.