In Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever, Riri Williams aka Ironherat makes her first screen appearance. This is just the beginning for this character. Will she definitely replace Tony Stark?
In theaters since November 16, Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever reinforces Shuri’s presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But Ryan Coogler’s film also introduces new characters. And among them: Riri Williams. In the Marvel comics, she is known as Ironheart.
Wakanda Forever sign his very first appearance (completely successful) in the MCU. Very young, still at university, she has her own “ironsuit”, an Iron Man armor. Except that the iconic hero behind this costume, interpreted by Robert Downey Jr., died a long time ago, in Endgame.
Yes, Dominique Thorne takes over from Robert Downey Jr.
We know it: the rumors about the return of Robert Downey Jr. are generally unfounded. Except for a possible cameo in a few years, there are no short-term plans to bring back the actor or his character – in particular because it would be a great destruction of this determining narrative spring ofEndgame. On the other hand, there is a place for the costume, like Kate Bishop taking over from Clint Barton in Hawkeye.
Ironheart and Iron Man have their genius in common. Like Tony Stark, Riri Williams is a brilliant inventor, able to get by with a computer keyboard and a few bits of metal. But where Tony Stark has the image of a self made man, he is nonetheless a wealthy entrepreneur, with a family heritage and able to mobilize his fortune for his inventions. Riri Williams, she starts from nothing – she designs everything in her garage while she still lives in a student room.
The new heroine therefore acts as the perfect heiress, taking up the philosophy of Iron Man, its technologies, and even in part its scathing humor, but with its own history. Her first act as a character is also remarkable: she built the first machine capable of detecting vibranium. This immediately demonstrates his intelligence and already installs him permanently in the continuity of the MCU. We also know that there is necessarily a link between Stark and Williams, even though the two protagonists have (normally) never met: how did she obtain these materials and why did she choose to build an ironsuit? These issues are not fully addressed in Wakanda Forever.
This will be developed in iron heartthe Disney+ series expected in 2023. These aspects of theorigin story will establish a relationship between Iron Man and Ironheart, definitively consolidating Riri Williams as the official replacement. There will then be no need to bring back Robert Downey Jr., leaving his story alone, completed in an excellent way.