Shuri Recruits Ironheart In Black Panther 2 – Theory Explained

After it was confirmed that Ironheart‘s debut will be in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, there’s a theory that she’s going to be one of Shuri’s (Letitia Wright) recruits. The Infinity Saga wrapped up via Avengers: Endgame which also marked the end of Iron Man’s (Robert Downey Jr.) story. In a total 180-degree character arc, Tony Stark sacrificed himself for the greater good by wielding the Infinity Stones and defeating Thanos (Josh Brolin) once and for all.

Like the rest of the original Avengers, it didn’t take long before Marvel Studios announced that the genius billionaire will have a successor. As confirmed by MCU architect Kevin Feige during Disney’s Investor Day 2020, Riri Williams will be getting her own Disney+ series titled Ironheart, with If Beale Street Could Talk actress Dominique Thorne playing the part. No official release date has been announced for the upcoming small-screen endeavor, although the character is now slated to be introduced first in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever before spearheading her own show. As exciting as the prospect is, this begs the question: how will the Ryan Coogler film debut Ironheart?

One popular theory suggests that Shuri will be the one to rope Riri’s Ironheart into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. At the end of the first Black Panther in 2018, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) purchases the compound where N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown) died three decades ago following a confrontation with T’Chaka (Atandwa Kani). As part of Wakanda’s efforts to be of service to those in need, the King plans on establishing an outreach center, with his younger sister aptly spearheading its science and technology division. To expand her program, Shuri could travel to MIT and meet September Foundation scholars, which includes Riri. Set images and videos for the upcoming blockbuster back up this idea, with the movie confirmed to feature scenes set in the prestigious technological institute.

A fairly new character in the comics, Brian Michael Bendis created Ironheart in 2015 for Marvel Comics. Riri is a 15-year-old whiz kid who designed her own version of the Iron Man suit to the amazement of many. Eventually, she became a superhero of her own, assuming the persona of Ironheart after the events of Civil War II left Tony Stark in comatose. While the genius Avenger was unable to physically meet the demands of being Iron Man, his consciousness was then transferred into an A.I. system for the Ironheart suit, allowing him to provide guidance to his protege. There’s a very slim chance that Marvel Studios will adapt the latter part of Riri’s storyline in print on the screen as it could ultimately cheapen an otherwise great send-off for Iron Man. So Shuri and the Wakandans could be Riri’s gateway to the bigger MCU in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The question now is what Riri’s role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be. Considering that the outreach center is in the United States, it’s possible that her and Shuri’s potential introduction is an entirely different plotline. Perhaps, she might not even get to suit up as Ironheart — saving that for her own Disney+ show instead. This could be a more practical way to navigate the matter in a way that her debut doesn’t take away from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s main story.