NYCC 2016: Tom Pelphrey And David Wenham Talk Marvel’s Iron FistPosted by Wilson Morales
October 10, 2016
During the 2016 New York Comic Con, fans finally got a chance to see and meet the cast of Netflix & Marvel’s next comic book TV series, Iron Fist, which will debut on March 17, 2017 at 12:01am PT in all territories where Netflix is available.
For the TV series, Marvel’s Iron Fist follows Danny Rand (Finn Jones), who returns to New York City after being missing for years. He fights against the criminal element corrupting New York City with his incredible kung-fu mastery and ability to summon the awesome power of the fiery Iron Fist. The cast also includes Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing, David Wenham as Harold Meachum, Jessica Stroup as Joy Meachum, and Tom Pelphrey as Ward Meachum.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones star Carrie-Anne Moss will also reprise her role of lawyer Jeri Hogarth and it’s widely rumored that Luke Cage star Simone Missick will also reprise her as Misty Knight.
Iron Fist is the fourth of the epic live-action adventure series (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and Marvel’s Luke Cage which are now streaming, all leading up to the teaming of the main characters in Marvel’s The Defenders) to premiere only on Netflix.
Prior to its panel discussion, Blackfilm.com participated in a roundtable discussion with David Wenham who plays Harold Meachum and Tom Pelphrey, who plays his son Ward Meachum.
The children of Harold Meachum (Wenham), Joy and Ward have spent their lives building Rand Enterprises to its current standing in the world, only to have all their work put in jeopardy when Danny returns to claim his birthright. They are childhood acquaintances of Danny Rand’s who now play an important role in Rand Enterprises
Pelphrey was best known for his role as Jonathan Randall on the CBS soap “The Guilding Light” and had a recurring role on the Cinemax series “Banshee.” Wenham (“The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” “300,” “Top of the Lake”) will next be seen in The Weinstein Company’s “Lion” opposite Nicole Kidman and the Disney sequel “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.”
Can you talk about your characters, and how did you get involved in the project?
Tom Pelphrey: Yeah, I play Ward Meachum. I got some sides that were sort of nondescript, and I didn’t even know what project they were attached to. Sent in a tape, went good. Then, went in to test for the part, at which point, I got to read the first 2 scripts for the show.
As I was sitting in some back closet on Marvel’s LA lot, after I had surrendered all of my personal belongings, and signed away my life, in walked Jeph Loeb, before I was about to read the script. I got to meet him and he told me about the story, and kind of pitched me the character. Very exciting. Then, you know, got the job, and here we are.
David Wenham: I was in Sweden, and it got a phone call from Jeph Loeb, telling me about and asking me if I’d like to be involved in this particular project. It was about a half-hour conversation where Jeph basically talked about the world of Marvel, the Marvel universe. Then, the story of Iron Fist, which I wasn’t familiar at the time.
His conversation for half an hour had me sort of floating in air in Sweden. He said, “would you like to be involved.” He couldn’t tell me exactly what my character did. He said, “But, trust me. You’ll have an amazing time. Then I agreed. I flew from Sweden back to Australia, packed a bag, and then flew out to New York. Began an adventure, not even knowing what I was diving in to. The world of Marvel is more secret than Donald Trump’s tax returns. It’s like, you just have to trust him.
I play Harold Meachum. I play Ward’s father. Harold was a business partner with Danny Rand’s father. They have a corporation called Rand. He’s a very wealthy, powerful individual. That was fun to play, because I’m not.
What can you say about their reaction when Danny comes back, eventually, to New York, and how they react. Obviously, they had that previous relationship as a business partner with Danny’s father. Tragic accident, from the comics, anyway. Obviously, he does come back to New York. Is there much you can say about how your characters react?
David Wenham: Well, I think the thing is more from Danny’s perspective. The fact that, obviously, things have changed in that period of time since Danny, however many years prior… the world is different. Things have changed, people have changed. The scene in New York, and specifically, the criminal elements of the city, have changed. It’s probably through Danny’s eyes … It’s probably better to ask Danny, actually. It’s his character who has noticed the changes.
What can you say about Ward? Is he somebody from the comic books, and if he’s not, how are you portraying him?
Tom Pelphrey: Well, Ward is a character in the comic books, but, you know I can’t say too much. I would say that we’re not necessarily beholden to representing him exactly as he appears in the comic book. It’s been a lot of fun. I have really dynamic material. A lot of good stuff to explore. Good partners. Yeah, Scott Buck did a great job staffing the writers’ room, and getting us good scripts.
We’ve seen a lot of Marvel characters, obviously on film, and now on TV. How much of a fan were you of the comic books, now as it’s been transcending on screen?
Tom Pelphrey: Yeah, I still have, probably the first 30 issues of the X-Men reboot from the mid-90s, right? About then? Yeah, I loved comic books as a kid. I mean, I guess most kids do. It’s been impressive to see what Marvel’s done with Netflix. I remember when Daredevil first came out, and the buzz around that. Then, watching the show later when I got this job. It’s just impressive, you know. It’s also nice to see that you can make a comic book-type show that isn’t necessarily just for kids. Kind of like what Deadpool did with the movies. These Marvel/Netflix shows are doing for television. There are those of us who are older who appreciate that. There’s a lot of fans, obviously, that aren’t just the younger generations.
Now, in the comics, Harold Meachum plays a small, but, very corporate role before he dies. Joy spends a lot of time trying to get revenge for her father’s death. I was wondering if you could describe Harold’s relationship to his children now that we’re going to see a little bit more of that.
David Wenham: I think it’s pretty clear that the narrative and I can’t talk about the previous ones, Daredevil, etc. Iron Fist itself, the narratives, and whatever, they’re some similarities from the comic book, and other points are particularly new.
In terms of the family dynamic, I think it’s fine to say that the relationship between the 3 of them, Harold, Ward, and Joy, is complex, to say the least. It’s multi-layered, it’s multi-dimensional. It’s surprising. It’s forever changing, depending on circumstances. It’s forever evolving. You know, it’s a strange relationship.
What do you suppose is most exciting for the fans to see? This is the last of the four Marvel series that Netflix is introducing. What do you suppose is exciting for the fans to see as we get into this last chapter, setting up for Defenders?
David Wenham: I think the fact that there’s three so far. Iron Fist has an opportunity to just differentiate itself from the other 3 as well. Just to show a different facet from the other three stories. I suppose to surprise audiences as well. The combination of the martial arts, and the mystical element in this one, I think, sort of sets it apart from the other 3 as well.
Each one of them is slightly different, and I think that’s what will probably interest fans. These things that sort of differentiates it from the others.
Tom Pelphrey: “Me, personally, the kung fu. I love kung fu movies. We have a kung fu TV show.
