Two Surprising MCU Movies Are Apparently Must Watch Before Disney+’s ‘Ironheart’ — Here’s Why

There are only a few days left until the release of the MCU’s Ironheart. The show has been in development for quite some time, with few updates over the past several years.

Now, ahead of its debut, Disney+ has released an official character spotlight and compiled a list of key MCU projects to watch before diving into Ironheart. The projects in question are: Iron Man, ‘Iron Man 2,’ ‘Iron Man 3,’ ‘Doctor Strange,’ ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ and ‘What If…?’

The Iron Man movies are pretty much a given. While Riri Williams isn’t a direct replacement for Tony Stark, she’s often seen as his spiritual successor, both in the comics and in the MCU.

Like Tony, she’s a tech genius who builds her own high-powered suit of armor. In the comics, her connection to Iron Man is much stronger, with Tony even serving as a mentor figure. In the MCU, that link is more thematic than personal, but the influence of Stark’s legacy on Riri’s journey is unmistakable.

The Black Panther films are also essential viewing. Riri made her on-screen debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where we saw the origins of her involvement in the larger MCU. Ironheart is expected to pick up not long after the events of Wakanda Forever, so understanding her introduction and the circumstances around it will be key to following her story in the new series.

As for What If…?, it’s becoming increasingly relevant for nearly every corner of the MCU. While it might not directly tie into Ironheart, the show expands on alternate versions of well-known characters and offers a broader understanding of the multiverse, something that could always come into play.

What about the Doctor Strange movies? Many fans have been asking how he ties into Ironheart, and while we don’t have all the answers yet, there are some compelling clues.

Although the full plot of Ironheart remains under wraps, one of the most intriguing aspects we’ve learned so far is that the show will explore the intersection of magic and technology. That alone brings Doctor Strange into thematic relevance. The Doctor Strange films and his appearances elsewhere in the MCU have laid the groundwork for how magic functions in this universe, from the mystic arts of Kamar-Taj to the darker, more dangerous forms of sorcery seen in Multiverse of Madness.

This connection becomes even more relevant with the introduction of the show’s primary antagonist: Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins, aka The Hood.

In the comics, The Hood is a street-level criminal who gains supernatural powers through a magical cloak granted by a demon. In the MCU, he’ll reportedly draw from dark magic, positioning him as the magical foil to Riri’s hyper-advanced technology.

Their dynamic has been described as “two sides of the same coin,” emphasizing the ideological and practical clash between science and sorcery. This alone makes Doctor Strange and his world an important piece of context for understanding how magic operates in contrast, and sometimes in conflict, with tech.

Adding to the intrigue, there have been persistent rumors that the show will feature the long-teased debut of Mephisto, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. While still unconfirmed by Marvel Studios, this rumor has been circulating for a long time, since WandaVision, and resurfaced around Agatha All Along when Aubrey Plaza’s character ended up being Death instead of Mephist as we suspected.

Mephisto is one of Doctor Strange’s most notorious adversaries in the comics, and his inclusion in Ironheart, should it come to pass, would further justify the relevance of the Doctor Strange films as essential prep.

In short, while Iron Man, Black Panther, and even What If…? are obvious entries on the Ironheart prep list, the Doctor Strange films may be a more surprising but equally important inclusion, hinting that the series could dive deeper into the mystical side of the MCU than anyone expected.

Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius MIT student who builds her own advanced suit of armor. Anthony Ramos plays Parker Robbins, also known as The Hood, a magic-wielding antihero. Lyric Ross appears as Riri’s best friend Natalie Washington, while Alden Ehrenreich plays Joe McGillicuddy.

Manny Montana portrays “H.R.” John, a gang member, and Anji White plays Riri’s mother, Ronnie Williams. Additional cast members include Matthew Elam as Xavier Washington, Jim Rash as the MIT Dean, and Eric André as Stuart Clarke, aka Rampage. The show also features Regan Aliyah, Harper Anthony, Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola, Paul Calderón, Cree Summer, and possibly Sacha Baron Cohen in undisclosed roles.

Ironheart is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ with its first three episodes on June 24, 2025, followed by its other three episodes on July 1. It will be the last television series and the conclusion of Phase Five of the MCU.

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