Madame Gao is playing a key role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it unravels on Netflix. First appearing in Daredevil, the character played by Wai Ching Ho will be returning for The Defenders.

Gao followed her appearance in Daredevil with appearances in the more recent Iron Fist series. With each appearance, Gao's ties to The Hand have kept her connected to each of the Netflix characters and will likely make her a centerpiece of sorts when The Defenders comes around.

According to reports from MCU Exchange, Luke Cage actor Mike Colter is confirming Gao for the the ensemble series set to debut later this year. “We saw Madame Gao [in the trailer]," Colter said. "Gao’s in it.” Colter's statements have sparked a bit of confusion among fans. In 2017, the first order of business upon getting a new trailer is to analyze it frame by frame and after doing this for The Defenders trailer, no one has found Madame Gao. Colter may have seen an alternate trailer but, either way, he is not revealing anything to shocking as many fans are expecting The Hand to be a major part of The Defenders following Iron Fist's conclusion.

Marvel's The Defenders is developed by Douglas Petrie and Marco Ramirez. The miniseries will also feature Sigourney Weaver as the villain, Alexandra (Sigourney Weaver), and several recurring guest stars from Marvel's Daredevil, Marvel's Jessica Jones, Marvel's Luke Cage, and Marvel's Iron Fist, including Eka Darville as Malcolm Ducasse, Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Carrie-Anne Moss as Jeri Hogarth, Scott Glenn as Stick, Rachael Taylor as Trish Walker, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, and Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing.

Marvel's The Defenders is the culmination of everything Marvel Television has been building up to so far with its Netflix series. It began in Marvel's Daredevil, where Matt Murdock became the Devil of Hell's Kitchen to fight off criminals in the area. He went up against Kingpin and the Punisher and eventually uncovered a vast conspiracy involving the cult-like crime organization called The Hand.

Marvel's Jessica Jones followed and told the story of a would-be superhero traumatized by a long period of being mind-controlled by a villain known as Killgrave. Jessica managed to fight and kill her tormentor, but it seems unlikely that she's ready to give the superhero life another try. Luke Cage was introduced in Jessica Jones but moved to Harlem for his own series. The escaped convict with super strength and unbreakable skin tried to make a new life for himself, but couldn't avoid being pulled into a power struggle for Harlem that sent him back to prison. Finally, Marvel's Iron Fist saw Danny Rand return to New York City after spending 15 years growing up in the mystical city of K'un Lun. Having mastered the power of the Iron Fist, Danny is now the sworn enemy of the Hand.