Get ready because the first three episodes of Ironheart are finally here. That's right, ending Marvel Phase 5 with a bang, the long-awaited Disney Plus series is now out in the wild, and there's plenty to unpack.
If you're not up to date with all the drama of the Marvel Timeline and projects that had a few bumps in the road, chances are you've probably forgotten that Ironheart was first announced five years ago. This was before titular hero Riri Williams made her MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022. Now, she's taking us (and a fancy new suit) back to Chicago, following a stint at MIT, where she'll become acquainted with all sorts of colorful characters, including superpowered crime boss The Hood.
The series will be the final small-screen project in Marvel Phase 5, after Thunderbolts* rounded things off on the big screen. Below, we break down everything we know about Ironheart so far, from its cast list and trailer to executive producer Ryan Coogler's comparisons to Daredevil: Born Again and Doctor Strange.
Ironheart release dates and reviews
Ironheart arrived in a triple episode premiere on Disney Plus on June 24, 2025 and June 25, 2025 in the UK. However, not all episodes are live yet. Fans can expect to catch another three-episode drop on Disney Plus on July 1, 2025, and July 2, 2025, in the UK (read our Ironheart release schedule for more details).
In terms of whether you are planning to add Ironheart to your watch list, currently, opinions on the first three episodes have been mixed. In our Ironheart review, we weren't fans of the show's safe choices or use of its villain.
Writer Bradley Russell comments: "Too often safe and frequently bland, the Riri Williams-fronted series shows plenty of potential but falls into familiar MCU traps and – perhaps its biggest cardinal sin – saves its best story for a second season that will probably be consigned to the scrapheap."
We'll let you know if our thoughts change over the next week and as more verdicts come in.
Ironheart trailer
The first Ironheart trailer sees Riri taken under the wing of Anthony Ramos's Parkins Robbins AKA The Hood. It doesn't look like it's all smooth sailing, though, since Riri's loved ones warn her that she could be in danger. Riri also builds herself a fancy new suit, which she can be seen flying in. Check it out above.
"It really highlights what happens when that ambition goes unchecked," executive producer Ryan Coogler teased to Marvel.com as part of a teaser breakdown. "What kind of price do you pay?"
"Riri is definitely in conversation with a street-level show like Daredevil," he added. "You've got characters trying – both heroes and villains – to make do with what they have. Then you combine that with cosmic Marvel, characters who would be at home in Doctor Strange or WandaVision. That [mix] of street-level Marvel and magical Marvel is a pretty crazy combination."
Ironheart cast
Following in the footsteps of Loki and Agatha All Along, Ironheart is set to be an ensemble-focused title, with actors from Hamilton and This Is Us the Star Wars saga.
Below is the full Ironheart cast list:
- Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams
- Anji White as Ronnie Williams
- Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins/The Hood
- Manny Montana as Cousin John
- Lyric Ross as Natalie Washington
- Matthew Elam as Xavier Washington
- Alden Ehrenreich as Joe McGillicuddy
- Shea Couleé as Slug
- Jim Rash as the Dean of MIT, reprising his role from Captain America: Civil War
- Shakira Barrera as TBC
- Paul Calderón as TBC
- Zoe Terakes as TBC
- Harper Anthony as TBC
- Cree Summer as TBC
- Sonia Denis as TBC
- Rashida "Sheedz" Olayiwola as TBC
- Regan Aliyah as TBC
- Sacha Baron Cohen as TBC
While the cast list seems pretty tied up, this is Marvel we are talking about, so expect to see some surprise cameos from other MCU faces as well.
We'll keep you posted as soon as any more names get mentioned! If you need to catch up on the timeline, you can also read our in-depth guide on how to watch all the Marvel movies and shows in order.
Ironheart plot
We won't get into spoilers here, and since we are still waiting for three more episodes, there's a lot of the Ironheart plot that still needs to be uncovered. However, what we can tell you is that Anthony Ramos is playing The Hood, who, as we learn in the trailer, becomes a mentor of sorts for Riri. Though he seems to be a pretty shady figure, Riri's loved ones warn her she might be in danger.
"I think Parker almost is a guy who was a misfit," Ramos said onstage at D23 back in 2022 (H/T TheWrap). "He wants to take in other misfits and show the world that you looked at us as outcasts, but we're going to end up on top. Parker is… a deep dive into a dark place. But on the inside, Parker believes that he's doing good, and Parker has a love for his crew and a love for his people. I'm trying to dance around the plot because I can't give y'all the deets! He's a complex guy and Parker kicks ass."
Plus, the show has Iron Man (or Doctor Doom...)'s seal of approval. "[Robert Downey Jr.] told me how excited he was and that he's rooting for it, too," Dominique Thorne told Empire. "I literally got two thumbs up. It's really reassuring to know you're not embarrassing Iron Man."
"It was very quickly realized that she was her own character in her own lane. There's a difference between [Riri] and maybe a Captain America or a Black Panther, where a mantle is being passed," Coogler said of the protagonist. "This is a character who was obviously influenced by Tony Stark and inspired by him, but she is also very different and doing her own thing."
As soon as we get the final episodes, we'll update this page with all the juicy details. Until then, it's worth keeping in mind that it's probably worthwhile watching this one ahead of Marvel Phase 6 kicking off.
While you wait for Ironheart, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows to get up to speed on everything else the MCU has in store.
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