Marvel TV's Netflix universe if off to a tremendous start, and what was ambitiously planned as four character shows followed by a team-up, has already grown into so much more in a small amount of time. After Daredevil set records for Netflix and won over fans and critics, a second season was immediately put on the fast track. Then there was Jessica Jones, also getting a second season, which introduced Luke Cage who's getting his own series this year. Similarly, Daredevil season 2 is introducing The Punisher who may get his own series.

And from what we've been hearing for a while now, Iron Fist may attempt to do something similar by introducing another Marvel Comics hero in Shang-Chi.

Shang-Chi is a character we suggested last year would make a great Marvel Comics hero for Netflix in our list of 12 Underrated Marvel Superheroes Who Should Get a Netflix TV Series, but more recently, and before Iron Fist was cast in January - where we helped break the news that it was Game of Thrones' Finn Jones playing Danny Rand - we were told to look out for Shang-Chi news.

Finn Jones rumored for Iron Fist

Keep in mind, this was at a time when in late 2015, the rumor mill was running out of control with stories ranging from Iron Fist being caught up in development hell thanks to in-fighting between Marvel's film and television divisions to it being linked to Doctor Strange or even it becoming a TV movie instead. You can forget all of that except the Shang-Chi part.

Iron Fist is coming as a full-fledged Netflix series as originally intended with Scott Buck (Dexter) serving as showrunner, Scott Reynolds (Jessica Jones) writing, and Brett Chan (Marco Polo) acting as stunt coordinator. With Finn Jones cast as the title character and production beginning later this year for an expected 2017 debut, we can talk about Shang-Chi now, because it sounds like he is indeed going to be in Iron Fist as well.

We pitched this to our pals at That Hashtag Show who - alongside MCU Exchange - were able to independently confirm from their sources that Marvel is actively in the process of casting an Asian male actor for the role of Shang-Chi who will appear in Iron Fist, and that the show should start shooting next month. To anyone who caught this week's episode 3 of the Total Geekall podcast, a show hosted by Screen Rant editors, this shouldn't come as a surprise.

Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu 45 - Marvel Comics
Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu Issue #45

As I explained on the podcast, a big part of the reason to include this character - in addition to his connections to Iron Fist and Heroes For Hire in Marvel Comics - is to address the need for more diversity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shang-Chi would represent the very first Asian hero in the films and TV shows, and could be the first to headline his own series if everythings works out for the best. Modern Marvel readers will recognize Shang-Chi for his key role in Jonathan Hickman's epic Avengers/New Avengers saga which led to and setup 2015's Secret Wars event.

Shang-Chi, a Chinese born character, was referred to as the "Master of Kung-Fu" and was created in the early '70s by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin (who created Thanos) back when Marvel wanted to acquire the rights to the Kung Fu TV series starring David Carradine.

More: Marvel’s Iron Fist TV Series: New & Returning Character Details

Daredevil season 1 and Jessica Jones season 1 are now available on Netflix. Daredevil season 2 will debut on Netflix on March 18th, 2016, followed by Luke Cage season 1 later in 2016. Release dates for Jessica Jones season 2, Iron Fist, The Punisher, and The Defenders on Netflix have not yet been announced.

Source: That Hashtag Show