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Interview: Executive Producers Sev Ohanian and Zoie Nagelhout Talk ‘Ironheart,’ Its Comic Book Inspirations, and Riri Williams’ Journey
June 24, 2025Ben MK
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe began nearly two decades ago with four simple words — "I am Iron Man." So, when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced his spiritual successor — Ironheart — into the MCU, it wasn't something to be taken lightly. Played by Dominique Thorne, Riri Williams originally made her comic debut in 2016's Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3 #7, and has since gone on to play an important part in such Marvel Comics storylines as Civil War II, Weird War One and Outlawed. As far as Riri's role in the MCU is concerned, however, the character has only just gotten started. And with Ironheart, Ryan Coogler and company are aiming to show audiences just what she's truly capable of, as Riri finds herself entangled in a criminal scheme cooked up by Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), an underestimated but ambitious man whose thirst for power has led him to make a high-stakes deal that could put not only him, but all those around him, in danger. I caught up with Executive Producers Sev Ohanian and Zoie Nagelhout to chat about Ironheart and its comic book inspirations, as well as to find out where Riri Williams goes from here. Ironheart is the 14th Marvel Television Studios series. What did you want to do the same, and what did you want to do differently, compared to the shows that have come before? Nagelhout: I think, in my experience, being at Marvel as long as I have, the first thing is to try to meet the high bar that has been set by everything that's come before. There's such great storytelling that has existed in the MCU. I come into this as a genuine fan myself, so from the outset you wanna meet that bar of quality and storytelling and visuals. Second thing is, almost seemingly oppositional to that, how do you make this show feel very different [so that] it stands apart and it has its own lane in the MCU. Not just so that we continue to surprise fans and give them something that they didn't expect, but also so that we are adding to the MCU. And that is always a question we ask ourselves, is what is the thing that this show can offer that no other show can. 
This series helps to bridge the gap between Wakanda Forever and the next MCU entry Riri will appear in, which is presumably Avengers: Doomsday. What did you want to explore in regards to her character arc, and by extension, Dominique's performance, in this debut season of Ironheart?Ohanian: I gotta just say, Dominique is a gangbusters actor. She is so good. She really shows up to the job. And, in this series, we see a range of performance from Dominique that we didn't get to see in Wakanda Forever, basically because that wasn't necessarily her story. She was a smaller, more supporting character in that movie. So, Ironheart, as a show, just gave us this amazing space for her to do her thing. And, certainly, she goes through a crazy arc in the show. The journey that her character takes certainly goes into some unexpected spaces. As far as where she'll end up next, I imagine that everything that happens to her and everything she does and chooses to do in the show is gonna certainly have reverberations and consequences, probably for years to come. As the saying goes, a hero is only as good as their villain. And Anthony Ramos plays the main antagonist in the show, who goes by the nickname "The Hood." Usually, Anthony plays the good guy in the projects he works on. What was it that made him a good fit to play the villain role this time around? Nagelhout: You sort of put your finger on it, which is this character — you actually need to like him. He actually has to have a charisma that draws you in so that you can understand why Riri would work with him. So, from the outset, Anthony Ramos — not only just who he is as a person, but also as a performer — he is someone who draws you in, who makes you like him immediately. And I think that made it all the more fun to see him kind of twist and turn and see where his character goes, because he has all of the acting chops to take your there. We've see that in his work prior, but certainly not in a straight-up villain capacity. But this isn't a straight-up villain, this is a villain who has layers and levels to him that, I think, Anthony uniquely brings to the part. 
Did you look to the Ironheart character in the comics at all for inspiration for the series? If so, what are some of the comic storylines that you referenced while making the show?Ohanian: We definitely looked into the comics. And what makes her unique is that she doesn't have decades and decades of stories to draw from. It was a much shorter run that she's had, because she's a more recent character. We took a lot of inspiration from Eve Ewing's run, as far as the tone, the voice. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. and Riri [are] a major part of the season for us. For me, that's the heart of the show, is their dynamic. That's where she was introduced, in that run. I'm just such a fan of Iron Man, and it was so cool to see that Riri's her own character, just by the virtue of how she treats her AI or how her AI treats her. That was always a fun inspiration for us. Is there a scene in Ironheart that stands out for you as a favorite, or one that's especially memorable? Nagelhout: Drawing off of what Sev just said, because of their relationship being such a focus and such a heart of the series, I think N.A.T.A.L.I.E.'s first scene in Episode 102. That dynamic that she and Riri have brings out a new side of Riri that we didn't get to see prior, that she's only gonna have with this person that knows her so well. And it's just incredibly clever and written by Malarie Howard, who did that episode for us. Very, very funny, but also very emotional, and has so much depth to it. That to me really encapsulates the show in many ways. Ohanian: My favorite scene is a scene that I had a cameo in, but then Zoie cut. So I'm not in the show anymore, so it's no longer my favorite scene. [laughs] I think I'll probably add that I just really like the climax of [Episode] 103, the sequence of events that happens there. And it's especially nice because that's where episodes are gonna take a week break. Just seeing where every character is suddenly being tested and changed, and challenged and traumatized. That makes me really lean in and wanna keep watching and see what happens. 
Last but not least, is there any update on a second season of Ironheart? And given the surprising turn of events at the end of this season, where do you hope to take Riri's story next?Nagelhout: Time will tell. It's something only the big boss, Kevin, knows. But we certainly set up this story to tell the best version of season one [and] also to leave the doors open to storytelling, wherever that may take us. |
Ironheart streams exclusively on Disney Plus, beginning June 24th.
