RUMOR: Marvel Studios Delayed Ironheart for Iron Man Synergy with Armor Wars

A new rumor states that one of the reasons Marvel Studios delayed Ironheart was so that the Disney+ series could be released closer to Armor Wars.

The upcoming Disney+ series Ironheart is rumored to have been delayed so that Marvel Studios can release the project closer to the premiere of Armor Wars, which has yet to begin production.

According to Trusted scooper CanWeGetSomeToast on X (formerly Twitter), the reason behind Ironheart's removal from Marvel Studios' release calendar is so that it can eventually premiere closer to Armor Wars' release date, which has not been announced at this time. Both projects are centered around characters with strong ties to Iron Man, especially in the comics, suggesting that Marvel wants to use this connection when promoting both projects. Armor Wars is expected to begin production immediately post-strikes.

Ironheart was delayed alongside most of Marvel Studios' upcoming television slate at the start of September. However, unlike the majority of the series which received new release windows, Ironheart was removed entirely from the calendar despite originally being slated to premiere on Disney+ in Fall 2023. While plot details remain scarce at this time, Ironheart will reportedly focus on the differences between technology and magic, with Riri Williams/Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) representing the former and Parker Robbins/The Hood (Anthony Ramos) the latter. Ironheart will also be set after the events of the 2022 blockbuster film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which marked the first appearance of Thorne's Riri Williams in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Armor Wars Is Set After Secret Invasion

Armor Wars -- initially conceived as a Disney+ limited series before being redeveloped into a feature film -- will see Don Cheadle reprise his role from previous MCU media as James Rhodes/War Machine, marking the character and actor's first lead role in the shared universe. Armor Wars will also be set after the events of the recent Disney+ miniseries Secret Invasion, which revealed that Rhodes had been replaced by a Skrull imposter at some point prior to the beginning of the series. While Marvel and Cheadle have remained tight-lipped regarding when Rhodes was replaced, it is believed that a Skrull had been impersonating the fan-favorite character since the events of Captain America: Civil War. Secret Invasion director Ali Selim confirmed as much in a recent interview, although there is always the possibility Marvel changes when Rhodes was replaced due to fan backlash over the decision.

Armor Wars Adapts a Popular Iron Man Storyline

While plot details remain under wraps for Armor Wars, the upcoming film is expected to pull from the seven-issue Iron Man story arc of the same name. Originally published between 1987 and 1988, Armor Wars saw Tony Stark dealing with his Iron Man armor falling into the wrong hands. With Tony Stark dead in the MCU, James Rhodes is expected to fill Stark's role in the original comic. Ultron has also been rumored to be part of Armor Wars, although fans should take that character's inclusion with a grain of salt until officially confirmed.