Alumni In the Disney+ Series ‘Ironheart,’ Alum Stars as Marvel’s Latest Hero Stories You May Like With ‘The Diplomat,’ an Actor Alum Sees his Star Rise Cornell Cinema Still Lights Up the Silver Screen Andrea Savage ’94 Makes ’em Laugh Dominique Thorne ’19 takes the lead as the genius inventor of a super suit—a role she debuted in Wakanda Forever By Beth Saulnier Dominique Thorne ’19 was still an undergrad when she appeared in her first feature film, the 2018 drama If Beale Street Could Talk. Now, the actor is headlining the latest Marvel TV series—as the title character in “Ironheart,” about a brilliant young engineer who’s in many ways the spiritual heir to Ironman. Debuting in late June 2025 on the Disney+ streaming service, “Ironheart” picks up its protagonist’s journey after her adventures in the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, in which Thorne’s character debuted. In that blockbuster movie, which grossed nearly $860 million worldwide, the Human Ecology alum plays MIT student Riri Williams. The character comes to the attention of Wakandan leaders after she invents a device that can detect vibranium, the ultra-rare and super-strong metal traditionally found only in the resource-rich African kingdom. After a rocky start with the film’s heroes, Riri ultimately joins their cause, using her skills and brainpower to help defend Wakanda against invaders—including by creating a potent battle suit akin to that of the late Tony Stark, a.k.a. Ironman. A Cornellian Gets Heroic: Scenes from 'Ironheart' “I love the fact that she is just fully herself," Thorne told Entertainment Weekly at the time. Stories You May Like With ‘The Diplomat,’ an Actor Alum Sees his Star Rise Cornell Cinema Still Lights Up the Silver Screen “She’s definitely not the typical or traditional superhero. She’s very much Riri Williams the 19-year-old student first, and then there’s this whole Ironheart business that she has to figure out.” And as the world watches Thorne—whose IMDb credits also include the historical drama Judas and the Black Messiah, in which she played a member of the Black Panthers—gain top billing in the Marvel Universe, some on the Hill can say they saw her onstage before she was a star. I love the fact that she is just fully herself. She’s definitely not the typical or traditional superhero. While majoring in human development, Thorne still found time to perform—including in a fall 2018 theater production of The Awakening of Spring at the Schwartz Center. In the early-20th-century German play (more widely known for its musical adaptation, the Broadway hit Spring Awakening), Thorne had the lead role of Wendla, a sheltered 14-year-old whose first tastes of love and desire ultimately lead to tragedy. Thomas HoebbelOnstage at the Schwartz Center in playwright Frank Wedekind's The Awakening of Spring. "Her years of training—performing arts high school and other performing experiences—were immediately evident in the ease and expressive range that she brought to an emotionally demanding role," recalls David Feldshuh, the professor of performing and media arts who directed the show. "Dominique was a generous, friendly, and fun cast member who was always ready to try new ideas and improvise to explore complex moments. Her performance was exceptional—authoritative and engaging." As the world watches Thorne gain top billing in the Marvel Universe, some on the Hill can say they saw her onstage before she was a star. But back to the much-anticipated “Ironheart.” According to Disney+, the six-episode show “pits technology against magic”: Riri returns to her native Chicago, continues working on her Ironheart tech, and is drawn to another superhero (dubbed the Hood), whose mystical headgear allows him to tap into the dark arts. As Riri says in the trailer: “After my internship abroad”—a sly reference to her sojourn in Wakanda—“I want to build something undeniable. Something … iconic.” (All photos courtesy of Marvel, unless otherwise indicated.) Published June 10, 2025 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Storytime with Corey Cornellians-in-Chief? A Roundup of Big Red Presidential Hopefuls Quizzes & Puzzles How Much Do You Know about Africana Studies on the Hill? Alumni In New England, Two Sisters Grow Cranberries for Your Holiday Table