5 things to know before Ironheart lands on Disney+

Ironheart

Marvel’s Ironheart is ready for launch — and Chicago is front and center. Dominique Thorne returns as Riri Williams, the teen tech genius we first met in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, now starring in Marvel Television’s highly anticipated new series. Premiering June 24 on Disney+ with a three-episode drop, Ironheart kicks off a six-episode run that fuses science, street smarts, and supernatural forces — all with deep roots in the Windy City.

Here are five things to know before Riri suits up again:

1. A South Side Story with Super Powers

Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato, Riri debuted in 2015’s Invincible Iron Man comic as a 15-year-old prodigy reverse-engineering her own Iron Man suit at MIT. In the Disney+ series, she’s back home in Chicago, where the story grounds itself in her neighborhood, her family, and her grind.

“This isn’t an origin story in the usual sense,” says Thorne. “It’s more about what happens after she’s already taken that leap.”

2. The Hood Brings Trouble to the Windy City

Anthony Ramos (In the Heights) stars as Parker Robbins — aka The Hood — a hustler turned magic-wielding antihero whose cursed cloak puts him on a collision course with Riri. Part ally, part adversary, Robbins is more than a one-note villain.

“Parker thinks he’s doing good,” Ramos says. “But that path gets messy, fast.”

3. From Wakanda to 79th Street

After returning from Wakanda, Riri grapples with life back in Chicago — juggling college, community, and a few cosmic curveballs. Supporting cast includes Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, and Carol Kane. Chicago plays more than a backdrop — it’s the emotional and cultural pulse of the show.

Shot partially in and inspired by Chicago, the series is executive produced by Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler via Proximity Media, in partnership with Marvel Television.

4. This Ain’t Tony Stark’s Legacy

Yes, the suit might look familiar, but Riri’s no billionaire playboy. She’s a broke Black teenager trying to survive and thrive in the South Side. Ironheart isn’t about filling Tony’s shoes — it’s about welding her own.

“She’s not a successor, she’s a pioneer,” Coogler says. “She’s building her own legacy, on her own terms.” Even Robert Downey Jr. gave her his blessing, saying on Good Morning America, “Iron Man loves Ironheart.”

5. Where Magic Meets Machine

This isn’t just another techy superhero story. Riri’s engineering prowess gets tested by something far stranger: the supernatural. Expect a genre collision that blends gritty realism with the mystic mayhem of the Marvel Universe.

“That blend of tech and mysticism gives the show a wild energy,” says executive producer Zoie Nagelhout. “It’s still very much Riri’s story — but the universe around her just got a lot weirder.”

Ironheart premieres June 24 on Disney+ with three episodes, then rolls out weekly through the summer. For Marvel fans and proud Chicagoans alike, this one’s worth watching.

“Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri—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).”

The series also stars Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam and Anji White. Chinaka Hodge is head writer; episodes are directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes. Executive producers include Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Zoie Nagelhout, Chinaka Hodge, Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler. Music is by Dara Taylor.

Produced in association with Proximity Media, Ironheart launches on Disney+ June 24, 2025.

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