Coming to life on November 11th, 2022, in the very highly anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, actress Dominique Thorne made her MCU debut by introducing Riri Williams, aka the character of Ironheart, to worldwide audiences. Already making a thunderous impact in the movie industry with striking roles in both 2018’s If Beale Street Could Talk and 2021’s Judas and The Black Messiah, Thorne seems to have been ushered into the MCU by fans with open arms.

With her character having created state-of-the-art technology that can detect vibranium, Riri Williams not only becomes the pivotal reason why Namor finally leaps forward from the deep depths of the ocean swiftly but in the process of becoming such a catalyst, quickly becomes one of the major players in the entire Black Panther sequel. Because of her sole advancements in modern technology, the denizens of the surface world now hold in their hands a way to methodically seek out the metallic-like ore, wherever it may lie. This is why Namor urges Queen Ramonda and Shuri to find the scientist responsible and bring them to him since his underwater kingdom holds heaps of the resource.

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Even before the viewing audience has a chance to meet this nineteen-year-old MIT student on screen, she is established by Namor as a menace who wants to bring an end to his underwater civilization and thus must be stopped at all costs. Over the course of the numerous battles throughout the movie, Ironheart instead becomes a positively unforgettable character in Wakanda Forever. There is no question that she will be sought out by fans in future MCU projects. The one curiosity that does remain of the hero is where she will end up next in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ironheart Gets a Legendary Marvel Mentor

     Marvel Comics

Debuting in March 2016 and from within the pages of Invincible Iron Man #7, Riri Williams first premiered in some teaser panels towards the end of the book where after slamming the door on a couple of other students at MIT, she is shown tinkering with what looks to be War Machine-related armor. It is later revealed that she is constructing such a bodily defense system because of a harrowing experience years ago when her stepfather and best friend were gunned down right in front of her during a picnic at a local park.

She then finishes a crude version of the iconic power suit and later goes on an aerial pursuit, capturing escaped fugitives in New Mexico. Watching, Tony Stark pays a visit and motivates her to become a full-time hero. When he, unfortunately, falls into a coma fighting Captain Marvel, Williams decides to take on the mantle of her mentor.

Being guided by an A.I. version of Stark himself, she fully steps into the moniker of Ironheart and commandeers his old lab. Not only that, but she gets invited by both S.H.I.E.L.D to use their resources and, most importantly, receives an invitation from The Champions to join their ranks. Concerning her future in the MCU, the technological side of her suit, plus her connection with S.H.I.E.L.D, could easily place her in the upcoming Armor Wars movie.

Riri Williams’ Marvel Connections

     Marvel Studios

Aligning herself with a group that includes the likes of Ms. Marvel, Miles Morales, Silk, and the daughter of the Vision, Viv, Ironheart aids the space warrior Nova in an intergalactic war against the Chituari and recklessly tries to go up against the impenetrable Thanos. Besides her inevitability of teaming with Ms. Marvel somewhere down the line in the MCU, Riri could just as well have a romantic storyline with Viv since Vision’s overall character arc seems to be ramping up with the upcoming Vision Quest Disney+ limited series.

Most important outlining Ironheart’s future path in the MCU is surprisingly found within another Marvel Cinematic Universe release, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings starring Simu Liu and Xu Wenwu.

In the second half of her own comic series, which lasted from July 2019 to November 2019, Riri figures out that the villain Eclipso, whom she had just finished defending Chicago from, had markings on her body from the Ten Rings organization. Using the help of numerous others, including Doctor Strange and Iron Man, she ultimately finds the group trying to reopen the Universal Wellspring in Cambodia for their own selfish motives.

While fighting them, her father reveals himself to be still alive and a part of the Ten Rings. Aided by Shuri and Okoye from Wakanda and Silhouette Chord, she defends the interdimensional gateway successfully. Considering a sequel for Shang-Chi was announced in December 2021, a familial connection could nicely tie Riri into that movie.

Now that Ironheart has been formally introduced into the MCU by way of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, comic book fans are on the edge of their seats when it comes to possibly seeing her in many other Marvel franchises. The possibilities for Iron Man’s young successor are endless.