Scrappy, Brilliant, Unstoppable: Riri Williams Is Back in ‘Ironheart’

By DaMarko Webster

Marvel Studios has officially dropped the first trailer for Ironheart, the upcoming Disney+ series that sees tech prodigy Riri Williams—played once again by Dominique Thorne—step out of Wakanda’s shadow and into her own six-episode spotlight. After captivating audiences in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri is now front and center, jetpacking straight into her next chapter with a new suit, new city stakes, and a fierce determination to prove herself. The series premieres June 24, and if the trailer is any indication, it’s going to be a wild ride.

“This show has an energy to it,” says executive producer Ryan Coogler in a recent conversation with Marvel.com. “I think people will really take to that scrappy optimism and that desire to persevere.”

Set in the aftermath of Wakanda Forever, Ironheart brings Riri home to Chicago—a place bursting with culture, tension, and invention. With the weight of Wakanda’s legacy on her shoulders and her own dreams burning brighter than ever, Riri dives back into her DIY genius roots to build a state-of-the-art iron suit. But her journey quickly pulls her into a much stranger world—one where science and magic collide.

The clash of logic and the supernatural is a central theme of the show, which pits Riri’s engineer mind against mystical forces. The result? A gritty, high-stakes remix of Marvel’s street-level realism and cosmic weirdness. As Coogler puts it, “Riri is definitely in conversation with a show like Daredevil. You’ve got characters trying—both heroes and villains—to make do with what they have. Then you combine that with characters who would be at home in Doctor Strange or WandaVision. It’s a pretty crazy combination.”

Riri’s new arc introduces her to Parker Robbins, also known as the Hood, played by Anthony Ramos. A magic-wielding hustler with ambitions as dangerous as they are charismatic, Parker mirrors Riri’s drive—only his path veers darker. “They’re two sides of the same coin,” says Coogler. “And it really highlights what happens when ambition goes unchecked. What kind of price do you pay?”

The cast around Riri includes a colorful lineup of rising talent: Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, and Anji White. But make no mistake—this isn’t about the ensemble. This is Riri’s moment. And she’s not here to fill anyone else’s shoes.

Fans might be tempted to compare her to Tony Stark, and sure, there are parallels. Both are brilliant inventors. Both use tech as a tool for change. But where Tony had wealth, privilege, and a global stage, Riri had scrap metal and a dorm room. She’s not following in his footsteps—she’s building her own path, circuit by circuit.

“That comes from the publishing,” Coogler explains. “It was very quickly realized that she was her own character in her own lane. This isn’t like a Captain America or Black Panther situation where a mantle is being passed. Riri was inspired by Tony, yes—but she’s doing her own thing.”

Coogler also emphasizes how central Chicago is to Ironheart. The city is more than a setting; it’s part of the show’s DNA. “Chicago’s one of the most influential cities in the country, but it rarely gets its due,” he says. “That underdog vibe, that chip on the shoulder—that’s Riri. And that’s Chicago.”

Just as Black Panther brought Wakanda to vivid, cultural life, Ironheart aims to do the same with the South Side. The show honors the city’s people, its pulse, and its potential—with a level of texture and detail that fans should expect from Coogler’s Proximity Media, which co-produced the series.

This story is one that Coogler and the creative team have been eager to tell—a story about invention born out of necessity, about community, and about making space when none exists. “We’ve been waiting so long to bring this to the world, and it’s coming at the perfect time,” Coogler says with a smile. “I’m so proud of everybody in this show and excited for folks to get to see it.”