After a nearly two-year delay, Marvel Television’s Ironheart will debut on Disney Plus on June 24th. Originally intended to stream in 2023, the project will feature Dominique Thorne‘s Riri Williams as she returns to Chicago after being swept up in the war between Talokan and Wakanda. The six-episode series will introduce Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, played by Anthony Ramos, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s “mystery man”, believed to be Mephisto.
We’re getting to see her in her element, which is quite literally the opposite of what we saw of her in Wakanda Forever. We’ll get more time to see what the other colors are and to see how she leads her life, rather than how she is when life is leading her.
-Dominique Thorne
The second of three live-action Marvel series set to hit D+ this year, Ironheart looks to veer significantly from the source material as it will see Riri’s formidable mind and technological genius up against dark magic. In order to prepare audiences around the globe for the show, we present to you THE ULTIMATE LIST OF WHAT TO WATCH BEFORE IRONHEART!!
Tier One
As is always the case with an Ultimate List, Tier One projects are considered “must see.” In this case, it’s pretty straightforward.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
🍅 84%
The first appearance of Riri Williams, 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced Dominique Thorne‘s character to the MCU and immediately traumatized her by throwing her into the middle of the Talokanil-Wakandan War. Set after the events of the Black Panther sequel, Ironheart will follow Riri as she attempts to navigate an entirely different type of conflict.
Riri is carrying the experience that she had in [Black Panther: Wakanda Forever]back home to MIT & there’s some interesting repercussions to her adventures that will set her on a fun course.
-Marvel Studios Parliament member Nate Moore
Tier Two
If Tier One projects are essential, Tier Two projects are supplemental. Any important events from Tier Two projects are likely to be covered in the body of the film, making watching/rewatching those projects non-essential; however, seeing them in their original context is always better than having them explained to you from someone else’s perspective. In this case, you get to treat yourself to the movie that started it all and remains one of the best the MCU has to offer.
Iron Man (2008)
🍅 94%
She’s dumpster-diving, whereas Tony Stark [was] this bajillionaire. What she’s able to accomplish is remarkable.
-Dominique Thorne
Who knew Obidiah Stane had a son? Solo: A Star Wars Story star Alden Ehrenreich joins the MCU as Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane, who, in the pages of Marvel Comics, was raised to hate anything related to Tony Stark. Should Ironheart follow that path, it will be incredibly interesting to see what Zeke’s take on the Duel of Los Angeles might be, given that it resulted in his father’s death. Whatever the case, Jeff Bridges‘ performance as Obidiah Stane is always worthy of a watch and Iron Man, the film that launched the MCU, remains one of the best films in the series as its 20th anniversary draws nearer.
Tier Three
Ironheart stands as a unique project at this point in the 17-year history of the MCU in that it really is not deeply connected to much of what has come before it. However, the series will delve into the realm of magic, which means some connections to prior projects, either set in the mystical corner of the MCU or featuring magic, might be worth a look. However, Tier Three projects are intended for completists only, so don’t sweat it if you can’t fit them in.
Thor (2011),Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
🍅 77%, 67%, 93% and 63%, respectively
Asgard existed blend of magic and technology and many Asgaridans, such as Frigga and Loki, were known to be powerful magic weilders. The Thor films included multiple weapons, relics and other assorted artifacts that are enchanted via spells by Odin and, perhaps, others as well. With Anthony Ramos‘ Parker Robbins known to be sporting an enchanted cloak and Ironheart‘s central conflict billed as a battle between technology and magic and dealing with ancient forces, their may be some value to taking a peek at the Thor franchise.
Your ancestors called it magic and you call it science. Well, I come from a place where they are one and the same thing.
-Thor
Doctor Strange (2016) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
🍅 89% and 74%, respectively
As explained to Stephen Strange by the Ancient One, the Masters of the Mystic Arts simply utilize extra-dimensional energy to “make magic.” Given that her statement is the foundation for the understanding of magic in the MCU, it’s possible–perhaps even likely–that Riri Williams’ survival may depend on using her own technology to disrupt or take advantage of that energy flow.
The language of the Mystic Arts is as old as civilization. The sorcerers of antiquity called the use of this language ‘spells,’ but if that word offends your modern sensibilities, you can call it a program; the source code that shapes reality. We harness energy drawn from other dimensions of the Multiverse to cast spells, to conjure shields and weapons, to make magic.
-The Ancient One
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
🍅 79%
Possibly the last project one might expect to see on this list, Episodes 3, 4 and 9 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law see Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme, target Donny Blaze, a former student of Kamar-Taj who was expelled and now works as a stage magician. Wong crossed Blaze’s path when the latter opened a portal and sent Madisynn King to another dimension where she met a demon named Jake…and in Ironheart, there be demons.
About Ironheart
Marvel Television’s Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam and Anji White.
Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Television’s Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne)—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos).
-Official Synopsis for Marvel Studios Ironheart
Ironheart was created by Chinaka Hodge, directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes and produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Zoie Nagelhout, Chinaka Hodge, Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler.
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