Black Panther 2’s Ironheart Actor Nearly Was Different MCU Character – Armessa Movie News

Black Panther 2’s Ironheart actor Dominique Throne reveals she was nearly a completely different MCU character before being cast in her current role.

With just over a month until her arrival, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actor Dominique Thorne recalls how she was nearly a different Marvel Cinematic Universe character. The long-awaited sequel to the Oscar-nominated 2018 film will see the titular country tested after the death of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, keeping in touch with the real-life loss of the Oscar-nominated actor. Those left behind, including Angela Bassett’s Queen Ramonda, Letitia Wright’s Shuri and Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia, will be forced to defend Wakanda from invading forces, including Tenoch Huerta’s Namor.

One of the new characters expected to be introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is that of Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams. Better known as Ironheart in the comics, the genus young inventor is generally considered to be a successor to Iron Man’s Tony Stark, having built her own suit of armor to rival the iconic hero while attending MIT. While audiences eager await her arrival, the Ironheart actor has revealed how she almost came to the MCU in a different manner.

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In the recent cover issue of Empire (via The Direct), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s Ironheart actor Dominique Thorne discussed how she was nearly a different MCU character. Thorne recalled initially trying out for the role of Shuri in the original film, though notes finding her sequel to be a more interesting path into the franchise. See what Thorne shared below:

There couldn’t be a safer runway for Riri to come into her genius and her superherodom than in the world of Wakanda, which is known as being a haven for Black brilliance. It’s us getting to know her as she’s getting to know this side of herself, and how she can potentially impact the world.

Why Ironheart Joining The MCU In Black Panther 2 Is Important

Thorne initially auditioning to play Shuri in the original Black Panther is sure to be an intriguing idea for fans of both the franchise and actor. Letitia Wright did initially score rave reviews for her turn as Boseman’s sister in the 2018 MCU film, namely for the brevity she brought to the role, though has since garnered division about her future in the part following reports of her anti-vaxx beliefs from the set of the sequel. With Boseman having passed in 2020 and various merchandise already teasing Shuri to be the next Black Panther in the film, it will be interesting to see how the film explains the passing of the mantle.

While she may not have landed the role she initially eyed, Thorne’s Ironheart will be an important figure in the MCU going forward from her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduction. Given the character’s status as an Iron Man successor in the comics, and Robert Downey Jr.’s retirement from the role after Avengers: Endgame, the door is wide open for other Iron-suit-based heroes to take the spotlight in the MCU’s future, alongside Don Cheadle’s War Machine for the Armor Wars movie. Only time will tell what the future holds for Thorne’s Ironheart when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters on November 11.

Next: Ironheart’s First MCU Costume Has 1 Major Iron Man Suit DifferenceSource: Empire (via The Direct)