'The Defenders' season 1 news: Sigourney Weaver makes life hard for superheroes

Apart from featuring its four main superheroes, Marvel TV's upcoming "The Defenders" is getting some star power in the form of veteran actress and "Alien" star Sigourney Weaver.

Marvel announced Weaver's participation in its highly anticipated mash-up mini-series during the recent New York Comic Con (NYCC) last weekend.

"Marvel is honored to have an actress of her caliber and status join what is already our biggest show ever!" Marvel Television head Jeph Loeb said in a statement. "She is by definition a class act," he added.

The three-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner will portray a villain who is yet to be named. Since the announcement, the rumor mill has been in overdrive over which Marvel villain Weaver will play in the series.

In the first official "The Defenders" teaser trailer, the voice of Stick (Scott Glenn), Daredevil's sensei, can be heard saying, "You think the four of you can save New York? You can't even save yourselves."

Stick is a longtime nemesis of The Hand, a group of evil ninjas. His presence and the fact that a figure of a hand envelopes the word "defend" in the teaser clearly indicated that The Hand will be one of the main villains in the show. Some people believe Weaver will play The Beast, the demon lord whom The Hand serves.

Another popular rumor is that the "Avatar" actress will play Viper. Weaver went on stage during the panel for "Iron Fist" at the NYCC clad in green. Viper's costume is also green. Coincidence? Not to many fans.

Viper previously appeared in "The Wolverine" (2013), but there is a possibility that the character could be reimagined for the TV show. Viper is somehow connected with The Hand and she could be portrayed as an integral member or associate of the organization.

The Defenders is a group of superheroes made up of Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones).

"The Defenders" has not yet started production but is scheduled to be released sometime in 2017.