How Black Panther 2 Can Introduce Ironheart To The MCU

Ironheart's Marvel Cinematic Universe debut will come in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and here's how the sequel can introduce Marvel Comics' Riri Williams to the MCU. Ever since Ironheart made her debut in Marvel Comics in 2016, there has been great interest in seeing her join the MCU. Not only were fans hopeful that the teenage super-genius would join the franchise before too long, but many wondered exactly how Marvel Studios would do this. These questions continued to grow after Iron Man's death in Avengers: Endgame.

It wasn't until late 2020 that Marvel Studios confirmed Ironheart was officially coming to the MCU. The plan was originally unveiled when Dominique Thorne was announced to star as the titular lead role in an Ironheart Disney+ show. Development on the series continued from there, but the early casting of Thorne sparked speculation that she could make her debut before the solo series in another Phase 4 project. It has now been confirmed that Ironheart will appear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be her MCU debut appearance. This exciting development for Ironheart and Black Panther 2 does raise questions about how it will be done.

Marvel has been incredibly secretive when it comes to the plot of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that director Ryan Coogler has crafted. The movie underwent some sizeable changes, though, following the unexpected passing of Chadwick Boseman. After careful consideration, Marvel elected not to recast T'Challa for the sequel. It is not known how the movie will deal with this absence, but set videos have teased that T'Challa might die off-screen. Meanwhile, rumors have circulated for a while that Namor and a war with Atlantis will be included in Black Panther 2. These elements don't make the movie seem like a natural place for Riri to debut, but here's how Black Panther: Wakanda Forever can include Ironheart.

Black Panther 2 Rumored MIT Scenes Can Be Riri's Origin

One element of the sequel's story that has also been rumored and teased through Black Panther 2 set photos and filming locations is a portion of the film taking place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This trip to MIT could be attributed to any number of pre-established reasons, such as flashbacks to T'Challa's time potentially studying abroad as he did in the comics. However, Riri's involvement in Black Panther 2 makes it quite likely that at least she will be present in the MIT portion of the film.

There are multiple possible explanations for Riri Williams being at MIT and getting tangled up in Black Panther 2's story. Tony Stark worked closely with MIT in the past since that is where he attended college when he was just a teenager. Captain America: Civil War saw Tony debut the inaugural September Foundation grant, which gave full funding to multiple MIT students for their various projects. Riri could be another young student at MIT who is the latest recipient of the grant. However, the school could also be one of many hubs for Wakanda's outreach program to spread the country's technological advancements. Since Shuri is the head of this program, she could travel to MIT and meet the September Foundation recipients to see how Wakanda's resources can help.

Riri meeting Shuri at MIT is a good start to her superhero journey in the MCU. In addition to potentially using some of Tony Stark's Iron Man suit armor technology to build her own suit, the friendship with Shuri can give her access to vibranium and other pieces of Wakanda tech, such as Shuri's advanced nanotech.

Will Riri Suit Up As Ironheart in Black Panther 2?

Riri Williams flies in her own suit of her armor as Ironheart in a Marvel comic.

Riri's appearance in Black Panther 2 is confirmed, but whether or not she suits up as Ironheart remains to be seen. It would seem likely that Marvel Studios wouldn't want to delay her superhero transformation unless that is the exact story Ironheart is supposed to tell. Instead, Riri can become Ironheart right away in her first MCU appearance. Marvel could even follow a similar approach to using Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War where Riri has a prototype Ironheart armor when Black Panther 2 begins, before later receiving a massive upgrade thanks to Shuri.

If Riri does suit up as Ironheart in Black Panther 2, it stands to reason that she'll eventually partake in the film's action sequences. This would allow her to potentially fight Atlantean heroes, such as Namora or Attuma. Ironheart will have her hands full if she does suit up in Black Panther 2, but that will also give Marvel a chance to show how capable of a hero she is right from the start. Meanwhile, it could give the movie two legacy superheroes. Ironheart replacing Iron Man could mirror Shuri potentially taking over the Black Panther mantle for T'Challa. In addition to their shared scientific genius, the burden on Riri and Shuri's shoulders would likely strengthen their bond.

What Black Panther 2 Means For Ironheart's MCU Future

Now that Ironheart's role in MCU Phase 4 and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is confirmed, the movie will play a significant role in setting up her MCU future. Depending on what happens with Riri's Ironheart armor, it could allow the Ironheart Disney+ show to hit the ground running. Instead of having to show her origin and how she gets her powers, Riri can be an established hero when the series begins. This will allow Ironheart to continue the story of a known hero and follow the blueprint of shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier instead of those introducing brand new characters, like Moon Knight.

It also opens the door for Ironheart to have greater connections to the MCU than previously imagined. Black Panther 2's story could plant the seeds for the mission that Riri will go on in her show. She might not continue to battle Atlanteans in the immediate future, but Riri's time at MIT or in Wakanda could allow her to discover something is wrong. At the very least, Ironheart will now be someone who can be on other people's radars. Black Panther 2 could be how Ironheart's villain becomes aware of Riri's existence, while even James Rhodes could take notice of her suit now and pay her a visit as a lead-up to or during Armor Wars.

At this point, it would be unwise to diminish the importance that Riri and Shuri's potential friendship will have on both characters and the MCU at large. Shuri is already confirmed to be the smartest person in the MCU, and Riri likely isn't too far behind. As friends constantly talking and sharing ideas, Riri and Shuri could also be integral to various technological breakthroughs. This could benefit each of them during their own superhero adventures, as they also help create weapons and defenses to protect Earth from the next Thanos-level threat. All of this is possible now that Ironheart is going to be in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

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