New Marvel Cinematic Universe show, new cast of characters… and Ironheart sure has a lot of new characters.
More than two and a half years have passed since audiences were introduced to Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a gifted and entrepreneurial scientist with a knack for advanced technology, in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Now, Disney+ has finally graced fans with the debut of the six-episode series exploring Riri’s journey as a possible heir to Tony Stark’s legacy. Just to clarify, before any overly enthusiastic critics jump in, we mean in terms of metal manipulation and innovation; no one could ever truly replace Iron Man… R.I.P.
In this Marvel narrative, Riri returns to her hometown of Chicago to navigate her next steps toward greatness after experiencing several setbacks at prestigious universities. Unfortunately, to become the next pioneering figure, she needs substantial funding to develop the next version of her advanced suit, which is financially demanding. Enter Parker Robbins, also known as “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos), who offers her an enticing, albeit morally questionable, proposition. For Riri to realize her ambitions, she must join his crew and compromise her ethical beliefs — which spells disaster for her but excitement for viewers. However, how long will this uneasy peace endure?
Featuring a cast that ranges from Broadway veterans to Star Wars actors, Ironheart promises to amaze and captivate, portraying characters across the spectrum of morality on this path of self-exploration and self-value. If you’re about to hit play but feel you need a quick primer, fret not, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading for a full breakdown of the characters you need to know heading into Disney+’s newest and most exciting Marvel TV series…
IRONHEART ON DISNEY+: CAST GUIDE
Dominique Thorne – “Ironheart”/Riri Williams
First introduced to Marvel fans in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri Williams is a genius from Chicago who helped Shuri (Letitia Wright) create tech that would measure up against Namor (Tenoch Huerta). Set after the events of Wakanda Forever, Riri is now back in her hometown and trying to figure out her next steps and how to become the next great inventor.
Lyric Ross as Natalie Washington
Lyric Ross, best known for playing Deja Pearson, the daughter of Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) in NBC’s This Is Us, joins the project as Riri’s best friend, Natalie Washington. In the comics, Natalie, along with Riri’s stepfather Gary, were both killed in a drive-by shooting that changed the course of the young Chicagoan’s life. It’s unclear if the show will stick with Natalie’s story and how big a role Natalie will play in the series.
Anthony Ramos as “The Hood”/Parker Robbins:
From Hamilton to In The Heights, Ramos’ next starring role is as the big-bad of Ironheart, playing the deliciously devoted villain with magical powers. In reality, all of Parker’s strength comes from the magical hood he wears, which gives him the ability to go transparent and manipulate certain elements of space and time, including bending bullets to his will. While he initially recruits Riri to join him, we can only assume the love will be short-lived.
Alden Ehrenreich as Joe McGilicuddy
Which franchise is next? The Fair Play actor joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Joe McGillicuddy, a tech-savant and friend of Riri’s who helps her to craft the latest version of her supersuit. We will note that certain online rumors speculate “Joe McGillicuddy” is an alias to cover up his character’s true identity — a la Agnes of Westview a.k.a. Agatha Harkness in WandaVision — but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Manny Montana as Cousin John
Get in the car, Elizabeth. Well, it’s actually more like “Get in the crew, Riri” because in this Disney+ series, the Good Girls alum plays Cousin John, the knife-slinging member of Parker’s gang. From the trailer, we know that it’s John who first attempts to recruit Riri to join the team.
Shea Coulee as Slug
A tech wiz who helps The Hood as a member of his crew, breaking into the homes of rich Chicagoans and getting a piece of the pie.
Shakira Barrera and Zoe Terakes as Ros & Jeri Blood (The Blood Siblings)
The hired muscle for the crew led by John and Parker, the Blood Siblings hustle their way into the room and keep witnesses in line as the rest of the team hits their intended target.
Sonia Denis as Clown
Denis plays Clown, the gifted pyrotechnic specialist who works alongside Ros, Jeri, Slug, John, Riri, and Parker. Whether you need to burn through one layer of glass or three floors of concrete, Clown is the person you want to have on your team.
How To Watch Ironheart
The first three epsiodes of Ironheart drop on Disney+ Tuesday, June 24 at 6 p.m. PST. The final three episodes will release on July 1 at 6 p.m. PST.
Disney+ offers a number of subscription options, so you can find the one that works for you. With ads, a subscription costs $9.99/month; without ads, it’s $15.99/month or $159.99/year.
There are also Disney+ bundles with Hulu, Max, and ESPN+, so you can subscribe to up to three services at once and save over 40% every month. The bundles are available in a few different configurations, starting at $10.99/month for Disney+ and Hulu with ads, and going up to $29.99/month for Disney+, Hulu, and Max ad-free.
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