Katarzyna Petru
Tomorrow at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), the first three episodes of the new Marvel series – “Ironheart” – will debut on the Disney+ platform. The production follows the story of Riri Williams, a young inventor who, like Tony Stark before her, builds her own armor and begins her journey toward the title of superhero. But before this new chapter begins, it’s worth recalling where the character Ironheart comes from, what we already know about her from the Marvel cinematic universe, and how she differs from her comic book counterpart.
Who is Ironheart? The Legacy of Tony Stark
Riri Williams is a brilliant teenager from Chicago who got accepted to the prestigious MIT at the age of 15. She possesses an engineering mind on par with that of Tony Stark himself, and his fate serves as her greatest inspiration. She first appeared in Marvel comics in 2016, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Deodato, and later developed by Eve L. Ewing.
In the comic book world, Riri constructs her own version of Iron Man's armor while still a student and eventually adopts the alias Ironheart. After the death of Tony Stark (who exists at that time in AI form), she takes on part of his mission and ideas, creating a new approach to heroism – more youthful, idealistic, yet no less effective.
Ironheart in the MCU – Film Origins
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) introduced Riri in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022). In this version, Riri studies at MIT and works on her own projects after hours. Her biggest achievement becomes a device for detecting vibranium – the extremely valuable metal from Wakanda. This invention accidentally attracts the attention of Namor, the ruler of the underwater kingdom of Talokan, who sees Riri as a threat.
Later in the film, Riri is kidnapped by Namor's people, ends up in his kingdom along with Shuri, and then escapes to Wakanda, where she constructs her first full-fledged combat suit. Together with the Black Panther, she participates in the fight against the forces of the water empire. The film's ending leaves the door open for further adventures of the character—and this is what the new series is based on.
What will the series "Ironheart" be about?
The new production from Marvel Studios brings Riri back to Chicago. After the events in Wakanda, the young inventor drops out of school and returns to her family. Viewers will meet her loved ones: her mother Ronnie (Anji White) and childhood friends, including Xavier Washington (Matthew Elam), the brother of her late friend Natalie.
But this is not just a story about returning home. Riri enters a new phase of her life when she meets Parker Robbins, known in the underworld as Hood (played by Anthony Ramos). He is a mysterious villain with his own moral code who gathers a team of outsiders fighting for "justice on their own terms." Also on the horizon is Joe McGillicuddy (Alden Ehrenreich) – a loner and engineer who, like Riri, admires the legacy of Tony Stark.
The series tells a story not just about suits and battles, but primarily about the clash of youthful ideals with harsh reality. Riri faces the consequences of her inventions, new relationships, and decisions that could impact her future as a hero.
MCU vs. Comics – What Changes?
As is often the case with Marvel adaptations, the film version differs from the comic book original. In the comics, Riri had no connection to Wakanda, and her armors were constructed in secrecy, without the involvement of other superheroes. In the MCU, however, she receives strong support from Shuri, and her debut is immediately intertwined with a broader global conflict.
The character of Parker Robbins / Hood also deviates from his comic book counterpart, where he was a character strongly associated with magic – his cloak granted him the ability to teleport and was of demonic origin. In the series, he will likely be grounded within more realistic frameworks of the MCU, though full details will only be revealed in subsequent episodes.
What's next in the Marvel universe?
The premiere of Ironheart is just the beginning of a new era for Marvel Television. On August 6, the animated series “Eyes of Wakanda” will debut, and an animated series “Marvel Zombies” is planned for Halloween. Another live-action premiere is scheduled for December: “Wonder Man”, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and featuring Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery.
The first three episodes will be available tomorrow – June 25 at 9:00 PM ET on Disney+. The final three episodes will be released on the platform July 1 at the same time.
