If Marvel isn’t going to hype her up, we’ll gladly do it ourselves.
Ironheart—starring the brilliant Dominique Thorne as genius inventor Riri Williams—is finally set to drop this June, and we are beyond ready to see her shine again. First introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri immediately proved she wasn’t just another tech-savvy teen; she’s the next evolution of innovation and heart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And yet? Marvel and Disney are acting like Ironheart doesn’t even exist.
Let’s talk about the marketing—or better yet, the complete lack of it.
Since Ironheart was first announced and previewed at D23 in 2022, it has been radio silent on the promotional front. No trailers. No posters. No official stills. No social media push. Not even a whisper during Marvel’s jam-packed announcements in early 2024. For a franchise that has pushed out promo campaigns for even its most minor side characters, the absence of love for Ironheart feels… deliberate. And it’s not sitting right with us.
Dominique Thorne Deserves Better
Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams made an explosive debut in Wakanda Forever, holding her own in scenes with Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright. That should’ve been Marvel’s cue to go all in. Instead, the character’s solo series has been buried under delays and reshuffles, with zero marketing momentum heading into its release window.
But let’s be clear: this is not just about one show. It’s about what it means when a young, Black, female genius is treated like an afterthought in a cinematic universe that claims to be expanding and diversifying.
A Missed Marketing Opportunity with Sinners
And here’s where Disney really fumbled the bag.
Ryan Coogler, the mastermind behind Wakanda Forever and Black Panther, is executive producing and producing Ironheart. Right now, his latest project, Sinners, is gaining buzz and preparing for its IMAX release. What better time to cross-promote Ironheart than right now—while his name is literally in theaters?
It’s a marketing dream: same visionary, new universe. Imagine the synergy of a Coogler double-feature—Sinners on the big screen, Ironheart in your queue. But instead, Disney has chosen silence. Again.
It’s Giving… Neglect
To not even ride the wave of Coogler’s current momentum is a baffling oversight from a studio that prides itself on building interconnected universes and calculated hype machines. Fans have shown up. They’ve waited through delays, reshuffles, and reshoots. But the studio that gave Moon Knight, Echo, and She-Hulk major rollouts suddenly can’t find the time or resources to promote Ironheart?
We see what’s happening. And we’re not letting it slide.
We’ll Do the Hype Ourselves
So let this blog post serve as a rallying cry: start talking about Ironheart. Share Dominique Thorne’s name. Resurface the D23 footage. Tag Marvel and Disney. Watch Sinners and use it as a springboard to lift up Riri’s return. And when the show drops in June, make sure your view count is loud.
Because if Marvel won’t hype this up, we absolutely will.
And Riri? We’re ready for you.
#Ironheart #DominiqueThorne #RiriWilliams #Marvel #RyanCoogler #Sinners #SupportBlackCreators #BlackGirlGenius #MCU
