Thanks to several more looks at Ironheart's armor in Iron Man's replacement. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever features the debut of Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, the brilliant teenager who builds her own technologically advanced super suit similar to Iron Man. Her debut in the final Phase 4 MCU movie comes ahead of her solo Disney+ series, but Marvel Studios has only teased what her Ironheart armor will look like.
The second Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer provides additional glimpses of Riri Williams' Ironheart armor, leading to questions about it possibly being Iron Man's Hulkbuster armor. Audiences first saw the Hulkbuster armor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's trailer certainly has similarities to the Hulkbuster armor, but it does not seem that Ironheart's armor is the same suit that Tony Stark previously invented. At the very least, Ironheart's Hulkbuster-like armor could be inspired by the biggest Iron Man suit Stark ever created.
Everything We Know About Ironheart's Armor In Black Panther 2
Riri Williams' Ironheart armor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has only been teased by Marvel through the footage, but additional details have been revealed through other pieces of merchandise. The trailers have shown Riri Williams building her Ironheart suit in scenes reminiscent of Tony Stark building his Mark I armor in Iron Man. All signs point to her beginning her journey as an MCU hero with a bulky suit that is more similar to Stark's Mark I than the Hulkbuster armor. Riri uses scraps and her ingenuity to create her first Ironheart armor, so the massive size of the suit results from her not having the necessary technology to slim down the armor and increase functionality.
Based on teases for Ironheart's armor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it seems that it is heavily tied to racing and cars. It is expected to be powered by a makeshift arc reactor, just like Iron Man's, but the protective element of her armor is much lower. Glimpses of the suit show several gaps in the armor that leave Riri Williams vulnerable to injuries and attacks. She also does not appear to have a full helmet to wear, which should mean Ironheart's flight capabilities are not as helpful if Riri has trouble breathing the higher she flies. Both of these flaws are something that Iron Man's armor did not have.
It is possible, though, that Riri Williams' journey to Wakanda will include equipping her with better technology, allowing her to build a better suit. While the bulky red and gold Hulkbuster-like Ironheart suit is the only one Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's trailers have included, toys have teased that she will get a sleek red and black armor before the movie ends. Riri's first use of this final Ironheart armor could even be when she yells "Let's go!" in the movie's official trailer.
Why Would Ironheart Have Hulkbuster Armor?
If Ironheart does have the Hulkbuster armor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, there are a few possible explanations for this development. The suit sustained some damage in Avengers: Infinity War, which could have led to it being scrapped and Riri Williams finding the remains. She could then re-purpose the suit for her own doing and incorporate elements of Iron Man's suit into Ironheart's armor. The same outcome might also be possible if the Hulkbuster armor was among some of the stolen goods from Avengers Compound. Hawkeye revealed Clint Barton's watch and the Ronin suit were among the stolen items, while Spider-Man: No Way Home teased other items belonging to Stark Industries were stolen. It is possible that Riri Williams came to acquire the Hulkbuster armor after this point.
Another possible explanation for why Ironheart would have the Hulkbuster armor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She is confirmed to be a student at MIT, which is where Tony Stark also went to college. The MCU could include a big reveal that Ironheart met Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark at some point in the past, and they formed a strong bond, which included her inheriting the Hulkbuster armor after his death. As for why she would get this armor specifically instead of one of Iron Man's other suits, that is less clear. With the threat of facing off with Namor and all of Talocan, there is an argument that Riri Williams' Ironheart debut could be aided by having the Hulkbuster suit in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
