Riri "Irohheart" Williams was created by Michael Bendis, Mike Deodato, Eve Ewing, and Kevin Libranda made her first Marvel debut in Invincible Iron Man (2016). After years of rumors surrounding her introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the teen genius will meet audiences before the release of her Disney+ solo series.
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige shared with ComicBook.com just when Williams is to join the growing roster of new characters as the studio continues to grow its collection of on-screen characters. "We're shooting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever right now, and the character of Riri Williams, you will meet in Black Panther 2 first," Feige said. "She started shooting, I think, this week before her Ironheart series."
Feige confirmed that actress Dominique Thorne, who has been cast for the Ironheart role, is to move from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) to a series of her own. It was previously theorized that Ironheart was to appear in the Armor Wars due to the casting being announced before the show began production. It was also hypothesized that Ironheart was to come about in close to the proximity of the death of Tony "Iron Man" Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Ties to a report that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever shooting select scenes at MIT could be more believable now that it has been made clear that Thorne will be in the Black Panther sequel to some extent. In the comics, Williams is a student at one of the most selective universities in the world.
Namor the Sub-Mariner and Atlantis are expected to appear in the Black Panther sequel, according to reports. It has been rumored that the role of Namora, cousin of Namor, has been awarded to actress Mabel Cadena. Other rumors are confident that Tenoch Huerta has been cast as the King of Atlantis himself.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is anticipated to release on July 8, 2022. Ironheart has not been given a release date and will stream as a Disney+ exclusive.