In an intriguing twist for Marvel’s Young Avengers, the character Ironheart from Marvel Television’s series could potentially take on a surprising antagonistic role within this upcoming superhero team in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Introduced in 2022’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams has garnered significant attention as a strong contender for membership in the Young Avengers. Although the team has yet to officially form, Riri Williams might serve an unexpected darker purpose within this youthful lineup of superheroes alongside characters like Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye, Wiccan, Speed, Cassie Lang, and others.
At the end of episode 6 of “Ironheart,” titled “The Past Is the Past,” character Riri Williams cuts a deal with Mephisto, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, marking his introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5. Though this agreement could potentially establish Mephisto as an antagonist for the Young Avengers, a fresh hypothesis on Reddit posits that it will be Riri Williams who confronts the team instead, possibly with Mephisto manipulating her from behind the scenes. As we witnessed with Parker Robbins, Mephisto’s power transformed him into a grotesque creature, and now, similar events seem to be unfolding for Riri Williams.
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In the final episode of Ironheart, dark veins similar to those that once adorned Hood’s body (when he was under Mephisto’s control) appeared on Riri Williams’ arm after she embraced the resurrected Natalie (Lyric Ross). This could hint at a future transformation for Riri, potentially turning her into a villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Such a transition is not uncommon and has been seen often, but with Mephisto involved, this narrative would be enriched with added complexity and emotional depth.
In a shift from her initial introduction as a hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Riri Williams took on a less virtuous role in the series “Ironheart.” Rather than standing by Shuri’s Black Panther (Letitia Wright) and the Wakandans to defend against Namor (Tenoch Huerta-Mejía) and his Talokan ilk, she found herself siding with a group of petty Chicago criminals led by Parker Robbins. In her pursuit for power over TNNL and Heirlum, she resorted to manipulating and blackmailing Ezekiel Stane (Alden Ehrenreich), leveraging his advanced black market technology and clandestine lab for her own gain.
Given her existing reputation for being dishonest, self-centered, and somewhat malevolent, particularly since she’s now working under Mephisto, it would be intriguing if Riri Williams’ Ironheart were to transition into a villain for the Young Avengers. However, it’s crucial that Riri evolves into a noble hero, carrying on Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) legacy in the best possible way. But her current role as Mephisto’s underling hints at a potential villainous phase before she can become a hero again. The prospect of Ironheart joining the Young Avengers is thrilling, even though we’re still unsure about the villain they’ll confront in their debut.
https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/iron-heart-season-2-plans-updates-future-setup-explained/embed/#
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2025-07-07 14:11