Riri Williams is more than eager to suit up once again. But, this time, she’ll have to do it without the impressive resources of Wakanda.
Marvel recently released the trailer for its next Disney+ streaming series, Ironheart, ahead of its June 24 premiere. The six-episode miniseries follows Riri (Dominique Thorne), who was first introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, following her time in Wakanda. As described by Marvel, Riri’s next chapter “entangles her in a dangerous world of science and magic.”
Ironheart Highlights Riri’s Ambition
Even if it also brought some anxiety, who can blame Riri for wanting more after working in Wakanda? The Ironheart trailer emphasizes Riri’s ambition, which goes hand in hand with her above-average intelligence.
In Wakanda Forever, Riri was introduced as an engineering student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her school project was, unbeknownst to her, used by the government. When Shuri and Okoye confront her about her technology, she gets caught in the conflict and ends up in Wakanda.
MIT might be one of the best universities in the world, but Riri learns how much of a marvel (no pun intended) Wakanda is. So, when she leaves and heads back to the U.S., feeling underwhelmed by the opportunities she has there makes sense. Riri is asked why she doesn’t work at “one of those fancy tech firms,” but even the best tech firm pales in comparison to her experience in Wakanda.
That said, it makes sense how, in Ironheart, she’s driven to build something “undeniable” and “iconic.” She wants to make her own mark. That desire will lead her to build the next iteration of her Ironheart armor, which is featured throughout the preview. But the Ironheart trailer also clarifies how that ambition could also be her hubris.
Ironheart Trailer Introduces the Hood
From musical theatre to the magic of Marvel, Anthony Ramos makes his MCU debut in Ironheart as Parker Robbins, AKA the Hood. Regardless of one’s familiarity (or lack of) with the character, the Ironheart trailer makes it clear that Parker is the antagonist in Riri’s new chapter.
Parker traps Riri in an elevator, evaluating her ability to escape as a test. He says it’s her “interview,” as though he’s determining her fit for a job. He offers her money and claims he can provide the tools she needs to bring her vision to life. For someone who strives for greatness, it’s easy to see how Riri would be tempted by his help. One line, however, solidifies why Parker shouldn’t necessarily be trusted: “But anyone who’s ever accomplished anything iconic in life has had to do some questionable things to get it done.”
Others even warn her about how she doesn’t know Parker well and will “end up dead or in jail.” But, sometimes, people need to make mistakes to learn a lesson. That will seemingly be the case for Riri in Ironheart.
Riri is Back in Sweet Home Chicago
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, we meet Riri on the MIT campus. Shuri, in particular, meets her at her dorm. Though the Black Panther sequel didn’t do a deep dive into Riri’s background, her room offered context about her hometown. Riri had a Chicago flag on her wall and a Chicago Bulls pillow on her bed, making her pride in her home clear. Now, Ironheart will showcase Riri leading her own story in her own city.
When Ironheart executive producer Ryan Coogler spoke with Marvel about the upcoming series spoke with Marvel about the upcoming series, the director of the Black Panther films noted how the character and Chicago are a perfect match.
“It’s a place that doesn’t get its due, so the character (of Riri) is kind of perfect,” Coogler said. “It’s this young woman who has this chip on her shoulder and this armored exterior, but inside, she’s just full of love. If that’s not Chicago, I don’t know what is.”
Ironheart debuts with a three-episode premiere on Disney+ on June 24.
Watch the Ironheart official trailer:
Check out the Ironheart official poster:
