How Spider-Man: Far From Home Teased Marvel's Ironheart Show
The upcoming Ironheart TV show was already foreshadowed in Spider-Man: Far From Home. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 4 may have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the recent Disney Investor Day proves that work never stops for Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and company, with the announcement of even more TV shows and movies for the MCU. That includes the surprise confirmation that Riri Williams will be coming to the screen soon through her own project on Disney+, Ironheart.
From the looks of it, Marvel Studios has been quietly developing the Ironheart show for a while now, with casting already in full swing. If Beale Street Could Talk actress Dominique Thorne has been tapped to play Riri in the MCU. Feige's announcement didn't specify a release date for the project, but it was confirmed alongside Armor Wars starring Don Cheadle, who is reprising his role as James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine. Both shows are part of the MCU's attempt to continue Iron Man's story through this legacy following his death in Avengers: Endgame.
This was a surprise considering that there was no previous indication Marvel Studios was working on either of these shows, particularly Ironheart. While all six of Tony Stark's fellow original Avengers have had clear successors, Tony was left without one - perhaps because the MCU wasn't ready to start the difficult process of filling the massive void that its inaugural character left. But just because there were no prominent rumors or explicit set-up for Riri William's arrival in the franchise, doesn't mean that Marvel Studios didn't hint at her introduction. 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home dealt with Peter Parker's struggle to accept Tony Stark's death, but even as it tackled the idea of Spider-Man potentially being the next Iron Man, it also subtly hinted that the Avenger's proper replacement is on her way. One of the in-flight movies shown during Peter's flight to Europe is Heart of Iron: The Tony Stark Story, which is described as "a feature-length documentary that chronicles the life and legacy left behind by the world's greatest hero, Tony Stark."
Obviously the movie focuses on Tony Stark (who first acquired the glowing reactor in his chest as a way to keep shards of shrapnel from entering his heart), but the title is definitely an interesting choice considering that Ironheart has been in the comics since 2015. Knowing that Marvel Studios can be creative with hinting at their future projects, it's very much possible that this was a sneaky reference to Riri's upcoming arrival in the MCU. Aside from that, the film also tackles the legacy of Iron Man, which Ironheart is an integral part of as she is his proper successor.
Created by Brian Michael Bendis, the 15 year-old genius inventor created her own battle armor, just like her predecessor. She eventually assumed the superhero persona of Ironheart following Tony being left comatose on the heels of Civil War II. To create a connection between the pair, Iron Man's consciousness was uploaded to Riri's AI, allowing him to provide her with guidance. It's too early to say if Marvel Studios will use this particular element of her story in the Ironheart show, but it gives them the opportunity to bring back Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU in a smaller way.
Aside from providing the Avenger with a formal successor, the upcoming introduction of Riri Williams in the MCU also effectively resolves issues of Spider-Man being unofficially dubbed the next Iron Man when he should have his own identity. Spider-Man: Far From Home tackled this idea, with the film ending with Peter's realization that the best way to honor his mentor's legacy is to be the best version of his own self. Still, criticisms persisted. The Ironheart TV show in the works is a more active way to address this problem.