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Iron Man’s shadow will always loom large over theMarvel Cinematic Universe, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the studio is actively trying to embrace this with the upcoming Disney+ miniseries Ironheart, based on the character of the same name. However, incoming updates on the show suggest that theMCUmight be trying a little too hard to make Riri Williams the next Tony Stark – something that will never sit right with the fandom.
Dominique Thorne returns as Ironheartfollowing her first appearance inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, which received a lukewarm reception at best. Even in Marvel Comics, the character was introduced only as recently as 2016 with the intent of making her an heir toIron Man’s legacy. On the surface, her storyline seems perfect for the movies, considering the void left by Stark’s death inAvengers: Endgame. But practically, the franchise could be heading toward disappointment from unrealistic expectations.
IsIronheartTrying Too Hard To BeIron Man?
Marvel Exec RevealsIronheartDetails
Brad Winderbaum, the Head of Streaming, TV, and Animation at Marvel Studios, dropped some exclusive hints aboutIronhearton thePhase Zeropodcast. According to the Marvel exec, Riri Williams has a “Tony Stark-like ego,” which often gets her into trouble. The series is also expected to work like a “crime show, in a way Marvel has never done before.” Furthermore, Winderbaum spoke about howIronheartuses fully practical suits, built using techniques that date back to thefirstIron Manfilm. While these clues sound promising, they also raise concerns in the bigger picture.
Designing a new character with traits influenced by an older icon can greatly benefit a big project.Colin Farrell’s Oz inThe Penguinwas essentially a great rehash of James Gandolfini’s phenomenal anti-hero fromThe Sopranos. The HBO-borrows-from-HBO model could work for Marvel too, but the problem here is that this isn’t some indirect influence or homage.Ironheart’sRiri Williamswill inevitably draw comparisons and assumptions that she’s the new Tony Stark or Iron Man of this generation.
Bringing back a trait like Stark’s ego, especially from his early MCU days, is a huge risk. It could translate into unwarranted arrogance and cause public contempt towards a character that deserves more time and presence in the franchise, especially in the long run as part ofthe Young Avengers ensemble. This risk could also be attributed to a relatively unfamiliar actor taking on the mantle of an evergreen pop culture symbol while breaking gender and racial norms. However, Dominique Thorne could rise to the occasion, turning this pressure on its head with a groundbreaking performance to prove naysayers wrong.
TheIron ManConnection Is Missing
Moreover, the passing of the torch fromIron Man to Ironheartwouldn’t really work since Marvel hadn’t established any significant connections between Tony and Riri in the previous movies. Even for a big name like Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, who’s practically Stark’s protégé, many fans still resist seeing him asIron Man’s successor. Regardless, the makers ofIronheartseem poised to insert Iron Man connections into the storyline. While this aligns with the comics, it may not sit well with longtime Marvel fans.
Marvel Tries To Recreate The OriginalIron Man’sMagic
The Disney+ Series Might Reopen Closed Storylines
It seems like Marvel isn’t shying away from directly continuing theIron Man storyline inIronheart. An unconfirmedinsider report fromThe Cosmic Circushints that Alden Ehrenreich is playing Ezekiel Stane, the son of Obadiah Stane – the firstIron Manvillain. The series is also rumored to feature a cameo from Happy Hogan, Stark Industries’ Head of Security (and one of Tony’s closest pals). Considering Jon Favreau directed the original film, the Disney+ miniseries could have benefited from his expertise if these reports hold true.
IronheartCould Make Iron Man Armors Cool Again
And this clearly isn’tIronheart’s only connection to the first film. As Brad Winderbaum revealed earlier, a fully functional Ironheart suit has been built for the show. This evokes nostalgia for whenIron Man armors like Mark III and Mark VIIwere hot topics of fan discussions. Bringing back the old-school suits forIronheartis a solid move, given their arguably cooler aesthetic compared to thenano-tech suits from the Infinity Saga.
Evidently, it’s not all bad news for Marvel’s upcomingIronheartseries. However, factors like trying to make Riri Williams an imitation of Tony Stark or reintroducing elements from the originalIron Mansuch as Obadiah’s son remain in make-or-break territory. Instead, the show’s creators should focus on fresh, exciting elements“tech vs. magic”pitch teased in the official synopsis. Additionally, Riri’s integration into the Young Avengers could help her establish an identity distinct from Tony Stark’s legacy. Of course, all eyes will be onIronheartas it officially concludes theMCU’sPhase Five before the franchise heads into the final phase of the Multiverse Saga.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
