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Marvel Studios is playing up the connection between Iron Man & Riri Williams more than ever in Ironheart marketing, with Robert Downey Jr.
Marvel Studios is still hoping that Robert Downey Jr. can reverse the MCU's fortunes - this time through marketing for Ironheart
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Life isn’t quite as sunny for Marvel Studios as it once was. After a pair of box office disappointments in 2025 in Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, Disney has also released Ironheart on Disney+. But, just like the upcoming Avengers films, Marvel is hoping that Robert Downey Jr. can help remind fans of what made the MCU great. Even while Avengers: Doomsday is deep in filming, they’re rolling out Iron Man himself to help with the promotion of Ironheart.
The connection between Iron Man and Ironheart is pretty clear in the comics – Riri Williams created her own advanced suit of armor in Marvel Comics during a time when Iron Man was presumed dead. However, the MCU’s Ironheart has closer ties to Wakanda and Black Panther, with the character making her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
On two occasions, Robert Downey Jr. has been used in the marketing for Ironheart, seemingly giving his blessing to Dominque Thorne, the actress playing Riri Williams. First, it was on a Good Morning America video where Downey Jr. congratulated Thorne on her first solo project in the MCU, saying “Iron Man loves Ironheart.” Then, just before the show debuted on Disney+, another clip of Robert Downey Jr. calling Dominque Thorne was released, this time saying that the 17 years of the MCU that started with Iron Man has all been leading to Ironheart.
It is pretty clear that Marvel Studios feels like they need to return to some of their classic hits as their box office prospects have been dwindling, so reminding us that Robert Downey Jr. was Iron Man before he was Doctor Doom makes sense. We all love Tony Stark after all. However, this marketing push is fueling a lot of speculation that Robert Downey Jr. will have a cameo in Ironheart, which could leave fans feeling disappointed if that doesn’t happen.
The second batch of Ironheart episodes will be released on Disney+ on July 1, 2025.
Consider this a meta post-credits scene for Marvel fans - the four key articles you need to read next to continue the thrills:
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