Marvel's next foray into Disney Plus television revolves around a character we met on the big screen (and it will be one of the last shows to do that). Ironheart brings Dominique Thorne back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Riri Williams three years after she made her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It was also filmed three years ago, and the studio has held onto it while trying to find the perfect time to release it. This summer has provided them with those answers.
The first trailer for the upcoming MCU show was just recently released and it already promises a fun and engaging time. It also restarted the comparisons to the franchise's most recognizable hero, Iron Man, due to the all those sequences of Riri flying around the city in her impressive suit of armor. This was inevitable, especially when you take into account the pair's history in the comics, but Thorne has thought about that too, offering up some words on what makes them different instead.
Ironheart's Dominique Thorne on those Iron Man comparisons
Ironheart star Dominque Thorne recently spoke to SFX Magazine about her return to the MCU as Riri Williams in the Disney Plus series. One topic that came up was the character's comparisons to Iron Man, which aren't all that surprising given that both characters wear iconic suits of armor. The star sees the similarities too, but she's also quick to point out the two characters aren't the same.
"There’s a clear understanding that she’s not Tony Stark. She does not have a billion dollars at her disposal. She does not have the resources... she doesn’t have the mentorship, or the guidance"
Thorne is right; apart from their technological talents, Tony Stark and Riri Williams are completely different people. Of course, this would have made for a unique dynamic if Robert Downey Jr.'s classic MCU hero was still a part of the franchise, particularly to provide that "guidance" and "mentorship" she is referring to, but that's unfortunately no longer possible after Tony's death in Avengers: Endgame (when he sacrificed himself by using the Infinity Gauntlet to stop Thanos).
Ironheart and Iron Man are constantly compared and not just because of their similar suits and creative minds; in the comics, Riri was mentored by Tony Stark and became something of a successor to him. That can't happen in the MCU since Tony died in Avengers: Endgame.
It did initially look like the idea of Iron Man's legacy might have played an overarching role in the Multiverse Saga. Ironheart was initially envisioned as coming out much earlier than it ultimately will, while Don Cheadle was set to return for the series-turned-movie Armor Wars, which would have seen Tony Stark's best friend James "Rhodey" Rhodes suit up as War Machine to stop the Iron Man technology from falling into the wrong hands. It's unclear if the latter project is actually happening now as there haven't been any official updates in two years and multiple reports suggest that it's somewhere between on hold and cancelled.
Nevertheless, it's going to be exciting to see where Riri Williams takes the technological side of the MCU, which has really taken a back seat since Tony Stark's death. The man behind Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. is proud and excited to see where the journey goes, as Thorne revealed that the Avengers star gave her "two thumbs up" and told her he is "rooting for" the show.
Ironheart premieres on Disney Plus on June 24, 2025.