Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the No. 1 movie in the country, which means millions around the world were introduced to Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams.
Thorne will be the star of Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ show Ironheart but she first had to make her world debut in Wakanda Forever as the young genius who builds a machine that can help detect vibranium. Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Okoye (Danai Gurira) pull Riri out of MIT before Namor and the Talokan (who are also in possession of vibranium) and the American authorities can get to her.
The women of Wakanda, including Queen Ramonda, take her under their wing and she blends right in—becoming another brilliant addition to the women-led kingdom. Riri’s intelligence is a match for Shuri and the two young women become a powerful duo as Wakanda deals with King T’Challa’s death.
“It’s really great to know that the MCU now has someone who is just opening the door to another world of representation,” Thorne tells Complex in a recent interview following the film’s release. “I think it’s a wonderful thing that someone who is as cool and as fun as Riri Williams can also be an opportunity for lots of other people to feel seen and respected and validated on screen.”
As a young girl from Chicago adjusting to a new life of superheroes and underwater worlds, Throne’s character also provides some of the film’s funniest moments. We caught up with Thorne who shared all about her introduction to the MCU, working with the Black Panther cast, and what Ironheart represents in the MCU.
![As someone who wasn’t in the first film after watching Wakanda Forever, how does that feel for you not to see the way that Ryan Coogler was able to carry this story forward without Chadwick Boseman and without T’Challa?
I think there was never a doubt in my mind about Ryan Coogler’s ability to tell a story. And I think that it’s an incredible thing, a sad thing, a beautiful thing to see him continue to tell this story that has been with him for so long and that he’s cared about for so long in this way without his friend. I think as some of these viewers might agree, it’s become a very beautiful work of art. But I think also the answer to that question is best given from Ryan himself in the Wakanda Forever official podcast, shameless plug. [Laughs.] He really does speak about that journey quite beautifully, and I think all of what he says is reflected on the screen.
Your character, Riri, is a genius and everybody’s after her because of her talent and now you’re introducing Ironheart into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How does that feel for you? How excited are you about ushering in this new era for this character?
I’ve really gotten to fall in love with Riri through the course of this film and the series. I think it’s really great to know that the MCU now has someone who is just opening the door to another world of representation and is really allowing, yet again, more people and more communities of folks who come from places similar to where Riri does as the south side of Chicago, or neighborhoods that are similar or who found themselves in a similar situation going to university or trying their hand at making it through school or being in the STEM field or whatever it is.
I think it’s a wonderful thing that someone who is as cool and as fun as Riri Williams can also be an opportunity for lots of other people to feel seen and respected and validated on-screen.](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YbX8_4mKSTQ/mqdefault.jpg)
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As someone who wasn’t in the first film after watching Wakanda Forever, how does that feel for you not to see the way that Ryan Coogler was able to carry this story forward without Chadwick Boseman and without T’Challa?
I think there was never a doubt in my mind about Ryan Coogler’s ability to tell a story. And I think that it’s an incredible thing, a sad thing, a beautiful thing to see him continue to tell this story that has been with him for so long and that he’s cared about for so long in this way without his friend. I think as some of these viewers might agree, it’s become a very beautiful work of art. But I think also the answer to that question is best given from Ryan himself in the Wakanda Forever official podcast, shameless plug. [Laughs.] He really does speak about that journey quite beautifully, and I think all of what he says is reflected on the screen.
Your character, Riri, is a genius and everybody’s after her because of her talent and now you’re introducing Ironheart into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. How does that feel for you? How excited are you about ushering in this new era for this character?
I’ve really gotten to fall in love with Riri through the course of this film and the series. I think it’s really great to know that the MCU now has someone who is just opening the door to another world of representation and is really allowing, yet again, more people and more communities of folks who come from places similar to where Riri does as the south side of Chicago, or neighborhoods that are similar or who found themselves in a similar situation going to university or trying their hand at making it through school or being in the STEM field or whatever it is.
I think it’s a wonderful thing that someone who is as cool and as fun as Riri Williams can also be an opportunity for lots of other people to feel seen and respected and validated on-screen.
