Marvel's Iron Fist cancelled by Netflix

He may have fought off countless enemies with his martial arts prowess, but Marvel hero Iron Fist has finally been defeated – by TV executives. 

Netflix has announced that its superhero series Iron Fist has been cancelled, after two series.

The show starred Game of Thrones' Finn Jones as Danny Rand, the billionaire scion of a business empire who takes on the mantle of Iron Fist to fight wrongdoers. It met with lukewarm reviews from critics, but earned a more favourable reception from Marvel comic book fans.

It is the first of Netflix's Marvel Defenders shows to face the axe. The three other shows in the franchise – Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage – all met with broadly positive reviews. All four characters teamed up for a crossover series, The Defenders, in 2017.

Daredevil and Jessica Jones were both commissioned for a third series, while Luke Cage is also tipped to return.

“Marvel’s Iron Fist will not return for a third season on Netflix,” Neflix and Marvel said, in a joint statement given to Deadline Hollywood. “Everyone at Marvel Television and Netflix is proud of the series and grateful for all of the hard work from our incredible cast, crew and showrunners.

"We’re thankful to the fans who have watched these two seasons, and for the partnership we’ve shared on this series. While the series on Netflix has ended, the immortal Iron Fist will live on.”

It is possible Jones could continue to play the character in Netflix's other programmes. Danny Rand appeared as a supporting character in the second series of Luke Cage, becoming a kind of sidekick to Cage's Harlem crimefighter.