Ironheart star Dominique Thorne had the very best superhero bootcamp possible with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Thorne’s character, Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, was first introduced in the 2022 sequel film directed by Ryan Coogler, where she joined an incredible cast and crew that undoubtedly helped her learn the Marvel Cinematic Universe ropes.
Now, Thorne goes from Wakanda to Chicago in her own Marvel series. I had the chance to speak with Thorne about what she learned from being a part of Wakanda Forever, with a team that was still dealing with the grief of losing Chadwick Boseman, and how that experience helped her lead her own show.
“That’s a memory that will stay with me for a lifetime for sure. Meeting so many icons, Angela Bassett, Michaela Coel, Ryan Coogler,” Thorne said about her experience on Wakanda Forever. “And also, at the same time, stepping with them through something that was very difficult and very emotional. And just a lot to process in general, and especially to process on screen, I think was such a remarkable thing to witness. And it absolutely I think emboldened me to step up to the plate and make sure that I’m doing the best job I can to keep it going.”
That growth is reflected in both Thorne and her character Riri Williams. In Ironheart, Thorne shares that Riri is stepping into a world filled with higher stakes and greater personal responsibility. Thorne talked about how series head writer Chinaka Hodge approached Ironheart with a particular attention to detail, to help bring authenticity and thoughtfulness to the character.
Riri Williams is one of the smartest characters in all of the MCU. And with that, she’s an inspiration for so many Black kids and kids of all backgrounds. Thorne shared what message she would like those kids watching her show to know:
“You can do it too! You can build, create, grow, anything that you put that mind to. It might take some hard work, it might give you some calluses, or it might toughen you out a little bit, but it’s worth it. It’s worth it in the end to push yourself and see what it is that you’re really capable of. Don’t be scared to lean into it and really find out who you are.”
Watch our full conversation below. Ironheart releases June 24, 2025 on Disney+.
About Ironheart:
Set after the events of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Marvel Television’s “Ironheart” pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), 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. Produced in association with Proximity Media.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
