Seven years after it was released, a forgotten Iron Man idea fromAvengers: Infinity Warmay be about to reappear in the upcomingMCUshow,Ironheart.Avengers: Infinity Warfinally brought together a multitude of characters who made their MCU debuts in the latter half of the Infinity Saga. This is partly what made the movie so compelling (and successful), as fans got to experience interactions between characters who were, quite literally, worlds apart, such as the now iconic scene in which Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange first encounter the Guardians of the Galaxy.
After reuniting for a final brawl inAvengers: Endgame, the merging of worlds has been piecemeal at best. The best instance of this in the Multiverse Saga was whenDoctor Strange used sorcery to help Peter ParkerinSpider-Man: No Way Home, but untilAvengers: Doomsdayunites the Multiverse Saga’s foremostsuperheroes against Doctor Doom, such team-ups feel decidedly distant. Still, it appears as thoughthe MCU’s next showwill at least feature a hint of Doctor Strange and his forgotten fusion with Iron Man.
Avengers: Infinity War Scrapped A Doctor Strange And Iron Man Crossover Idea
Doctor Strange Nearly Wore Iron Man’s Armor
The scene in which Iron Man and Spider-Man rescue Doctor Strange inAvengers: Infinity Warnearly went differently. Instead of simply forcing Ebony Maw into space by blowing a hole in his Q-Ship’s hull,one version of the script had Iron Man transfer his nanotech armor to Doctor Strangeto protect him fromEbony Maw’s torture needles. The armored Doctor Strange was even depicted in concept art designed by Phil Saunders, who posted the image toInstagramin February 2020, providing an explanation of the scene in the caption.
It is interesting to see how the armor would have been altered to better reflectDoctor Strange’s characterization. While the sleek Mk L design elements still shine through, Strange’s armor encircles the Eye of Agamotto around Strange’s neck in lieu of Tony Stark’s arc reactor. It is also engraved with runes, andthe gauntlets' repulsor beam palms now cause Strange’s typically orange-hued magic to shimmer cyan. It would have been interesting to see if and how this armor worked in tandem with Strange’s magic, and nowIronheartmay be about to deliver.
Ironheart Is Combining Doctor Strange’s Magic With Iron Man’s Technology
Ironheart Is Using Familiar Runes In The Ironheart Trailer
Ironheartis due to premiereon Disney+ on June 24, with trailers now delivering some illuminating developments for the character.The latestIronhearttrailer is perhaps the most consequential, as it shows exactly what kind of armor Riri Williams will ultimately create as she strives to make something iconic. In a few short sequences, it is clear that Riri Williams' suit of armor utilizes some form of magic asit emanates familiar orange runes typically manifested by sorcerers like Doctor Strange and Wong.
Runic magic is also used by witches in the MCU.
This isn’t too surprising a development, as Riri Williams is due to reluctantly team up with Anthony Ramos' The Hood, a mystical character with shady connections to otherworldly beings.The prevailing theory is that his influence will spur Riri to create a magic-imbued suit of armor, finally realizing the suit of armor that Doctor Strange never got to wear. Whether this magic is specifically tied to the suit, or whether Riri herself has learned to use it, remains unclear - but this could be an unspeakably powerful creation.
How Powerful Is Ironheart’s Magic-Enhanced Armor Explained
Ironheart Could Be As Powerful As Doctor Strange
The extent of this armor’s power will remain unclear untilIronheartairs. Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that a suit ofarmor that bridges Iron Man’s tech and Doctor Strange’s magic is sure to be brimming with new capabilitiesthat have thus far eluded the MCU. If Riri can wield magic that is even nearly as powerful as Doctor Strange, then this suit of armor could be a game-changer, turning her into one ofthe MCU’s most powerful superheroesas she combines the might of two others.
Then again,it remains unlikely that Riri Williams will be as powerful as Doctor Strange or Iron Man. Not only would this risk diminishing the years-spanning achievements and journeys of both by gifting their powers wholesale to a brand-new character, but it would also shift the wider power balance of the MCU substantially. While further details aboutIronheart’sstory are still forthcoming, it could be instead that Riri will strike a devilish deal to gain these powers, only to relinquish them after recognizing the error of her ways.
Ironheart
Cast
Ironheart: Following Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart introduces Riri Williams, a prodigious inventor navigating her path back in Chicago. Balancing her inventive prowess in creating iron suits with the enigmatic presence of Parker Robbins, known as The Hood, Riri finds herself at the intersection of technology and magic.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War brings together the Avengers and their allies to face a new threat from the cosmos, Thanos, who seeks to collect the Infinity Stones. The film, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unites numerous superhero characters in a battle to prevent Thanos' ambition of altering reality itself.
