Although Jones' character, Danny Rand, is white in the comics that the show is based on, there were hopes that the showrunners would take the opportunity cast an Asian-American actor in the role. This decision would avoid reiterating the offensive white savior trope we've seen in films like The Last Samurai, Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, and The Great Wall, all of which involve a white man going to Asia to master martial arts, gain ancient wisdom, and then save the day. And, of course, Danny would've been the first Asian-American superhero in Marvel's cinematic universe.