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Ironheart Cast Discusses Bringing the MCU to Chicago: ‘A Battle Ensues’ (Exclusive)
“We’re taking it back to her hometown of Chicago,” says star Dominique Thorne. “It’s an invitation to explore her roots and her upbringing.”
Chicago, get ready — the Marvel Cinematic Universe is headed your way, bringing with it the inevitable superhero chaos.
Disney+’s upcoming Ironheart series shifts the action to the vibrant city of Chicago. During a visit to Entertainment Weekly’s D23 2024 video suite, series stars Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, and Lyric Ross shared insights about the significant role Chicago plays in the story.
“At the start of this show, we meet the same Riri Williams we first encountered in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but now we’re going deeper,” Thorne explains, confirming that Ironheart takes place after the events of the Black Panther sequel. “We’re starting to understand the factors that shaped the woman we glimpsed before. We’re also seeing how recent events are influencing her outlook.”
Thorne first appeared as Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, portraying a brilliant engineering student who creates her own armored suit, reminiscent of Tony Stark’s iconic Iron Man suit. Born and raised in Chicago, Riri was last seen returning to MIT after the tragic death of Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett). Now, as Ironheart begins, Riri is heading back to her roots in Chicago.
“This series invites viewers to delve into Riri’s origins and upbringing,” Thorne says. “We’re taking it back to her hometown, where a battle ensues as she wrestles with how to use the incredible knowledge and genius she possesses. She’s faced with choices about what she’s going to do with that power. As she returns home, we see how these decisions play out in her environment — she has options. Who is she going to become with this newfound understanding of herself?”
Anthony Ramos, who plays Riri’s friend Parker Robbins, a.k.a. the Hood, notes that this theme resonates with all the characters in the series.
“We see this common thread where each character is trying to figure out how much they can achieve,” Ramos explains. “They start to wonder what more they can do with a little more power or influence. This journey affects the characters in both positive and negative ways, and we see them begin to use one another to get ahead, whether it’s for power, money, or something else. It’s fascinating to watch how their stories intertwine.”
Regan Aliyah, whose character remains under wraps, hints at the “complicated” relationships between the characters, while Alden Ehrenreich, also tight-lipped about his role, shares what drew him to the project.
“In my first meeting about this show, they told me the goal was to create a series where no one is clearly good or evil — everyone is complex,” Ehrenreich reveals. “The show really dives into the psychological and emotional landscapes of each character, especially Riri. It’s a world we haven’t seen before in the MCU.”
Thorne is especially excited to bring the story to Chicago, a setting she feels has been underrepresented in the MCU. Ramos adds that the city itself is like a character in the show, with Chicago playing a vital role in shaping the identity of the characters.
“Parker Robbins in the comics is originally from New York, but we changed his story to make him a Chicago native,” Ramos says. “We made him from Humboldt Park, which has a large Puerto Rican community. We crafted a backstory with his mom being part of the Young Lords, raising him with that influence. Chicago is integral to the identity of all our characters and the show itself. I can’t wait for people to experience that. Filming in Chicago was a gift; it’s one of the greatest cities in the world.”
Ironheart is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2025.
Ironheart Cast Discusses Bringing the MCU to Chicago: ‘A Battle Ensues’ (Exclusive)
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