Interview: Ironheart Is Coming for the Throne: Ryan Coogler and Chinaka Hodge Spill All

Look, we all love a good origin story. But what happens when the next big Marvel hero isn’t a billionaire playboy or Norse god, but a 15-year-old Black girl genius from Chicago with a chip on her shoulder and a brain that runs circles around Tony Stark’s AI?

That’s Ironheart, baby. And if you’re not already hyped, allow us to change that.

The TV Cave sat down with executive producer Ryan Coogler and head writer Chinaka Hodge for an exclusive deep dive into Marvel’s upcoming series Ironheart (via The African-American Film Critics Association). And let’s just say—this ain’t your average Marvel fare. It's smarter, grittier, and wrapped in enough heart (and literal hardware) to start its own tech revolution.

Who Is Riri Williams and Why Is Everyone Obsessed?

Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, first made her Marvel Comics debut in 2016 and immediately became the tech-savvy prodigy fans didn’t know they needed. Think Iron Man, but with less ego and way more self-awareness.

Introduced cinematically in Black Panther Wakanda Forever, Riri (played by Dominique Thorne) stole every scene she was in. Now she’s getting her own Disney Plus series, and it’s being helmed by some of the most creatively daring talent in Hollywood.

Ryan Coogler, fresh off turning Black Panther into a billion-dollar franchise and the crazy success of Sinners, is executive producing. Chinaka Hodge, a spoken word poet turned TV writer, is leading the writer’s room. And if that sounds like a recipe for something that’s going to punch through the Marvel formula? That’s because it is.

This Isn’t Iron Man 2.0. This Is a Full-On Reboot of What a Marvel Hero Can Be

Sure, the comparisons to Tony Stark are inevitable. But Ironheart is not here to recycle. This show isn’t about passing the torch—it’s about burning the blueprint and building something entirely new.

What makes it sing? Authenticity. It’s got a young Black lead who’s actually written by Black creatives. It’s got action that means something. And it’s got the kind of layered storytelling that lets you cry in one scene and cheer in the next.

And if you’re worried about Marvel burnout, don’t be. Ironheart feels different because it is different. No multiverse whiplash, no forced cameos. Just character-driven storytelling with edge, emotion, and style.

Check out our full review here.

The TV Cave Verdict: Ironheart Might Just Save Marvel’s TV Universe

After our conversation with Coogler and Hodge, we walked away with one clear takeaway: Ironheart is the future. Not just of Marvel, but of superhero storytelling in general. This is a series with soul, with smarts, and with something to say. And it’s being told by the exact right people at the exact right time. So if you’re sleeping on Ironheart, go ahead and set an alarm now. This show is going to hit hard, shake things up, and redefine what it means to be a hero.

TLDR? Ironheart is about to take flight. And when she does, you’re going to want front-row seats.

What did you think?

Change Image

• Loved it
• Hated it
• So/So