Dominique Thorne Reprises her “Black Panther” Role in New MCU Series “Ironheart” – Now Streaming on Disney+
It’s been almost three years since Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) made her MCU debut in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” where she appeared as the young MIT prodigy who engineered an armored super suit inspired by Tony Stark’s. Soon after, it was revealed that Thorne would be getting her own series – “Ironheart” – as the successor to Iron Man – which, as of yesterday, has finally landed on Disney+.
The Next Iron Icon
Ever since Iron Man’s death in “Avengers: Endgame,” there’s been speculation circulating as to who might fill the shoes of the brainiac, iron-clad superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU is iconically known for its faithful adaptations of Marvel source material, and remains true to the characters and storylines of the comics, and “Ironheart” is no different. In 2022 the Iron Man-replacement theories were put to rest as Riri Williams joined the MCU, inspired by the Marvel Comics character Ironheart – a genius, teenage inventor from Chicago who becomes a superhero after building her own Iron Man suit.
RDJ Passes the TorchRDJ Passes the Torch
Even former Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr. has apparently been in Thorne’s corner from the jump, offering his support via Facetime ever since her first appearance as the superhero in “Wakanda Forever.” And more recently, while Thorne appeared on “Good Morning America” to promote the new show, RDJ chimed in mid-interview with a pre-recorded video message expressing his excitement for Thorne and “Ironheart.” It’s always nice to see actors supporting each other, and the encouragement from RDJ also mirrors that of Tony Stark’s support for Riri Williams in the comics, who endorses her in her goal of becoming a superhero – adding an extra layer of verity in her carrying the Iron Man torch.
Back to MIT—And Back to Reality
“Ironheart” takes place after the events of “Wakanda Forever,” centering on Riri as she returns to MIT following her ‘study-abroad internship’ in Wakanda. Things take a turn when she is expelled from school for helping other students with assignments, and, as a result, has to go back home to Chicago. After arriving back in her home city, she meets Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos) AKA ‘The Hood,’ the leader of a criminal-activist organization who intends to recruit her in exchange for financial assistance toward her mission of creating a new version of her Iron Man suit. “Ironheart” pits technology against magic as Riri must choose between her ambition and her desire to become a hero, with a character arc that the show’s producers are apparently comparing to Walter White’s from “Breaking Bad.”
A Rising Star Shines Brighter
Aside from her feature in “Wakanda Forever,” you might recognize Dominique Thorne from some of the other big-name projects she’s been part of. At just 27, she’s already had her hand in two Oscar-nominated pictures with her roles in “Judas and the Black Messiah” and “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
The first three episodes of “Ironheart” are now available on Disney+, and will be followed by three more episodes on July 1st.
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