Marvel TV recently held a panel during this year's New York Comic-Con, focusing primarily on the upcoming "Iron Fist" series. However, towards the end of the panel, Marvel TV executive Jeph Loeb brought on stage actress Sigourney Weaver and announced that she would be the main villain for "The Defenders."
"Marvel is honored to have an actress of her caliber and status join what is already our biggest show ever," Loeb explained during the panel (via Deadline). "She is by definition a class act," the executive went on to say.
The show would see Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones) team up against a common enemy. Loeb did not reveal the character that Weaver would be playing, but she is speculated to be an iconic comic book villain who will go up against all four heroes.
Comic Book Movie has speculated that Weaver is possibly playing The Beast of the Hand, a demonic creature that, in the comic books, took possession of Daredevil's body. In the series the beast may use Weaver's character as its vessel instead. This comes particularly due to the fact that The Hand was already introduced in "Daredevil" season 2.
It is also pointed out that Weaver may be playing the CEO of IGH, the same company responsible for creating enhanced individuals, which may also be responsible for giving powers to Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. The report also states Weaver may be playing Viper, also known as Madame Hydra, who is both a mutant and an espionage master.
Should Weaver indeed be playing Viper she may be portrayed as the leader of The Hand, at least in the United States. The report does point out that the character, being tied to both mutants and HYDRA, is one of the few who can be used by both Marvel Studios and Twentieth Century Fox. She did appear in "The Wolverine" as a minor villain.
"The Defenders" is scheduled to premiere in 2017.
