Marvel: Every MCU Disney+ show ranked by anticipation
By Mike McNulty
11. Ironheart
For the uninitiated, Ironheart is one Riri Williams. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato, Riri’s an African American child prodigy who, at the age of fifteen, created her own Iron Man armor. This so impressed Tony Stark that he basically gave her a job at Stark Industries. When Tony Stark was thought to be dead, Riri temporarily took over as Iron Man before Tony’s return. At least that’s how it was in the comics. With Tony being dead as of Avengers: Endgame, it’s very likely she’ll be carrying on the legacy for good in the MCU.
It’s also an big opportunity for actress Dominque Throne. Her previous film credits are If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) and the upcoming Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), but Ironheart would essentially be her first starring role, which also means an opportunity to break into the big leagues.
Why, then, is the upcoming Ironheart show at the bottom of the enthusiasm list? Because as a character, Riri is a sore spot among Iron Man and comic book fans alike. In the comics, Riri comes across as a bratty know-it-all who never seems to fail at anything she does and who virtually everyone in-universe roots for. That could make for a rather dull and insufferable protagonist, especially when compared to the man she’s supposed to have been inspired by. Hopefully, the series creators won’t make the same mistake.