How Ryan Coogler Shaped Riri Williams In Black Panther 2 & Ironheart

Dominique Thorne breaks down how she and Ryan Coogler worked together to shape Riri Williams in Black Panther 2 and Ironheart. Riri Williams makes her MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever before starring in her Disney Plus series, Ironheart, next year. Coogler has been an integral part of shaping the MCU's Riri Williams as the writer and director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as well as an executive producer on Ironheart.

By introducing Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Coogler is able to instantly throw the character into the deep end with war, magic, and connections to major players in the MCU before Ironheart's premiere. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Thorne gives new insight into how Coogler shaped Riri Williams in both Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Ironheart. She explains how he understands the humanity of a character and the details he wants to include to add authenticity.

"I think one thing about that man, Ryan Coogler, is that he knows how to tell a story. He knows how to get to the truth of a person. He knows how to tap into whatever that is about the human experience that draws us in and really connects us. He does that well every time. He's the one who showed me, someone who was in theater every day, that film might be something worth exploring when I saw Fruitvale Station. To get to work with him now and just sort of hear his thoughts and ideas on who Riri is, and how she moves through the world; what she looks like, what she wears her hair like, how she dresses, that she might be a sneaker head? It's just another example of the bits of storytelling that really matter when it comes to encapsulating, or trying to encapsulate, humanity in a person that's fictional. The best guide by far."

What To Expect From Ryan Coogler's Take on Ironheart

RiRi Williams in the Ironheart MCU Mark II armor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Coogler's ability to find humanity in superheroes and villains is an impressive part of his storytelling. He has created some of the most complex villains in Kilmonger and Namor, as well as some of the most compelling heroes. The depth of thought put into crafting Riri Williams, from her physicality and wardrobe to her origins and motivations, is imperative to creating a rich character. Coogler and Thorne have already begun to differentiate the MCU's Riri Williams from the comic book version and Tony Stark.

Riri Williams is expected to fill the void left by Iron Man after Tony Stark died, and while she is mentored by the hero in the comics, that is not the case in the MCU. Riri is introduced as a 19-year-old genius MIT student, impressing even Shuri with her skills as an engineer. She is forced to face the consequences of her own intelligence and ambition when one of her inventions puts her on the radar of Wakanda, Talokan, and the U.S. Government. Riri's unique personality, background, and motivation bring authenticity and depth to the character. While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever primarily focused on her connection to the conflict between Talkoan and Wakanda, it laid the groundwork for her arc to continue in the upcoming Disney Plus series.

Introducing Riri to the larger world of the MCU changes the trajectory of her life. The impact of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will bleed into Ironheart, with Riri facing off against The Hood, aka Parker Robbins, a magic-wielding villain. This already sets her apart from her predecessor, who primarily fought against technological villains, some of his own creation, and cosmic threats. Coogler introduced Riri at a turning point in her journey, as her understanding of the world expands beyond what she ever knew. This will inevitably change her, informing her arc in the upcoming series. Coogler is a pivotal voice in Riri's story with her introduction in Black Panther 2 and continued arc in Ironheart.

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