15 Actors Who Could Be the Next Iron Fist in the MCU

Iron Fist brings a mix of grounded martial arts and mystical power to Marvel stories, with a history that stretches from the city of K’un Lun to the streets of New York. The character blends hand to hand combat with a disciplined focus on channeling inner energy, which means the role tends to reward performers who can move well on camera and handle demanding action schedules. That combination has inspired plenty of fan conversations about who could carry the mantle next.

With that in mind, here are fifteen working actors who already have the action experience, training, and screen presence associated with the role. Each name below has a track record that shows real fight choreography, intensive prep for physical roles, or a strong background in projects where precision and athletic timing matter.

Andrew Koji

Andrew Koji is a British Japanese actor known for leading the series ‘Warrior’. His work on the show includes extended fights built around practical choreography and long takes, along with weapons training and wire assisted beats coordinated with veteran stunt teams. He also played Storm Shadow in ‘Snake Eyes’, where he trained for sword work and close quarters sequences.

Before ‘Warrior’, Koji spent time as a stunt performer and developed stage combat fundamentals that translate directly to camera. His film and television credits also include appearances in ‘American Gods’ and ‘Bullet Train’, which add experience with ensemble action filmmaking and second unit collaboration.

Ludi Lin

Ludi Lin is a Chinese Canadian actor who played Liu Kang in ‘Mortal Kombat’. Preparation for the role included extensive camp based training blocks focused on striking combinations and screen fighting rhythm, which can be seen across multiple set pieces in the film. He previously starred in ‘Power Rangers’ and appeared in ‘Aquaman’, where he worked inside large scale action units and blue screen environments.

Lin also appeared in the ‘Black Mirror’ episode ‘Striking Vipers’, showing range in contemporary drama. His background includes fitness modeling and on camera combat training that emphasize flexibility and clean technique, which supports sustained rehearsal and repeat takes on action heavy productions.

Henry Golding

Henry Golding headlined ‘Snake Eyes’ as the title character, undergoing months of preparation in sword choreography and tactical movement with stunt coordinators. The production required quick transitions between hand to hand exchanges and weapons work, which shows up in the film’s dojo and castle sequences. He is also known for ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and ‘A Simple Favor’, which established his leading man profile.

Golding’s credits include action thriller roles in ‘The Gentlemen’ and ‘Persuasion’ era promotional fight rehearsals that focused on footwork and camera angles. He brings international visibility as a British Malaysian performer, along with experience working in both studio features and location heavy shoots.

Iko Uwais

Iko Uwais is an Indonesian actor and silat practitioner best known for ‘The Raid’ and ‘The Raid 2’. He served as both star and action choreographer on multiple projects, building sequences that rely on real techniques adapted for camera safety. His screen work also includes ‘The Night Comes for Us’, ‘Mile 22’, and the series ‘Wu Assassins’.

Uwais regularly collaborates with stunt departments to design combinations that read clearly in close quarters and wide shots. He has experience leading ensemble action casts and coordinating with second unit teams, which supports complex scheduling and efficient coverage on fight heavy productions.

Joe Taslim

Joe Taslim is an Indonesian actor and former national judo athlete who played Sub Zero in ‘Mortal Kombat’. He appeared in ‘The Raid’ and ‘Fast and Furious 6’, adding car stunts and fight choreography to his resume. His martial arts base includes competitive throws and grappling that adapt well to screen work.

Taslim’s television credits include ‘Warrior’, where he performed in period set fight scenes and weapon focused choreography. His background as a team sport and national squad competitor adds familiarity with regimented training blocks and collaboration in physically demanding environments.

Takeru Satoh

Takeru Satoh anchored the ‘Rurouni Kenshin’ film series with an emphasis on speed, footwork, and clean blade handling under the guidance of action director Kenji Tanigaki. The films feature long form choreography and night shoots that require stamina and precise timing, all executed with minimal reliance on digital doubles.

Satoh’s broader body of work includes contemporary drama and crime titles in Japanese film and television. He has experience carrying multi film franchises, coordinating rehearsals across several units, and maintaining continuity in technique and movement style over multi year production timelines.

Max Zhang

Max Zhang, also credited as Zhang Jin, is a Chinese actor and former professional wushu athlete who starred in ‘Master Z: Ip Man Legacy’. He appeared in ‘Ip Man 3’ and ‘The Grandmaster’, where he showcased traditional forms adapted to cinematic rhythm. His early career included stunt and fight team work under established Hong Kong action directors.

Zhang’s filmography spans modern and period action with extensive wire work and weapon sets. His training background supports accurate kicks, spins, and balance oriented choreography that reads well in side on coverage and long lens compositions.

Daniel Wu

Daniel Wu led the series ‘Into the Badlands’ as Sunny, completing multi week camps in broadsword, staff, and unarmed sets for each season. The show integrated long takes and wide frame coverage that highlighted real technique, with Wu collaborating closely with action directors on episode specific styles. He also appeared in ‘Tomb Raider’ and numerous Hong Kong action films.

Wu’s career bridges American television and Asian cinema, which includes bilingual productions and location shoots with varied crews. He has produced projects and worked in development, giving him familiarity with preproduction planning for action design and actor conditioning schedules.

Manny Jacinto

Manny Jacinto is a Filipino Canadian actor known for ‘The Good Place’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. For ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ he trained in aerial immersion programs that emphasized physical endurance, spatial awareness, and technical discipline inside confined spaces. He has also worked on action driven shows that combine character beats with movement focused scenes.

Jacinto’s recent credits include ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ and a lead role in ‘The Acolyte’, which added swords and choreography rehearsals under specialized stunt teams. His experience on large studio productions includes coordination with safety staff and precision blocking inside complex sets.

Avan Jogia

Avan Jogia starred as Leon S. Kennedy in ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City’, training with firearms instructors and stunt coordinators for tactical movement and room clearing beats. He also led the series ‘Now Apocalypse’ and appeared in ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’, adding ensemble experience on effects heavy productions.

Jogia has directing and writing credits alongside acting, which gives him familiarity with previsualization needs and shot planning for action scenes. He works across independent films and studio features, adapting to different schedules and rehearsal resources.

Darren Barnet

Darren Barnet played major roles in ‘Never Have I Ever’ and ‘Gran Turismo’. For ‘Gran Turismo’ he trained in race craft fundamentals and worked on rigs that simulate g forces and limited visibility, which supports focus and stamina in demanding setups. His roles also include voice acting and animated projects that require vocal timing aligned with action beats.

Barnet has Japanese heritage and has worked in projects that involve bilingual press and outreach. His background includes gym based conditioning for screen work, with experience on sets that balance athletic demands with tight shooting schedules.

Ross Butler

Ross Butler is known for ’13 Reasons Why’ and the ‘To All the Boys’ series, as well as playing adult Eugene in ‘Shazam!’. His work includes gym based conditioning and fight rehearsal for superhero scale sets that use wire assists and stunt doubles in coordinated passes. He stands out in ensemble casts where timing and marks are tightly choreographed.

Butler has appeared in both film and television that require rapid call sheet changes and resets. He has experience with press tours and franchise publicity cycles, which supports studio needs during long production runs and global releases.

Tom Blyth

Tom Blyth led ‘Billy the Kid’ and portrayed Coriolanus Snow in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’. His roles involve weapon handling, horseback work, and extended physical sequences conducted on location. He trained under dialect and movement coaches to maintain performance across action scenes.

Blyth’s career includes stage experience and classical training that reinforce posture, breath control, and repeatable movement patterns. He has worked on projects that balance period detail with action design, coordinating with costume departments to ensure mobility for fight choreography.

Alan Ritchson

Alan Ritchson headlines ‘Reacher’, a series built around practical fights captured with clear geography and limited cuts. Preparation included strength training, striking drills, and coordination with stunt teams to build repeatable combos that hold up across multiple angles. He also appeared in ‘Fast X’, working within a large second unit pipeline.

Ritchson’s background spans television and features, including roles that require sustained night shoots and outdoor action units. He brings experience with weapon retention choreography and close quarters techniques that read cleanly in medium and wide frames.

Lee Byung-Hun

Lee Byung Hun is a South Korean actor with international credits across film and television. He played Storm Shadow in the ‘G.I. Joe’ films, performing sword and acrobatic sequences alongside practical effects and pyrotechnics. His work in ‘I Saw the Devil’ and ‘A Bittersweet Life’ features grounded fight scenes that prioritize timing and control.

Lee also appeared in the series ‘Mr. Sunshine’ and in ‘Squid Game’ as the Front Man, which expanded his global profile. He regularly works in English and Korean language productions, navigating large scale sets and action pipelines that require precise coordination with stunt and camera departments.

Share your top pick for the Iron Fist mantle in the comments so we can see who you would hand the glowing fist to next.