News

We first learned of plans for Marvel Zombies at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, when it was announced as part of a splashy "Marvel Animation" slate reveal. Things went quiet after that as the shows featured at the event seemingly took longer to produce than expected.

X-Men '97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have since premiered, and Marvel Zombies is finally set for release this fall. It picks up after a What If...? episode titled "What If... Zombies?!" which saw several fan-favourite heroes, including Spider-Man, fight off a host of undead fan-favourites.

While several characters have already been confirmed for the animated series, Nexus Point News has now shared a list of more MCU heroes (and villains) we'll see this spooky season.

According to the site, "Marvel Zombies will also feature appearances from John Walker, Baron Zemo, Namor, Melina Vostokoff, Thor, Valkyrie, and Black Panther." Whether the actors who played them...

Marvel Zombies is an animated miniseries coming soon to Disney+, created by Zeb Wells and based on the popular Marvel Comics series. It’s part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but is not part of the Sacred Timeline, and will be the 16th TV series produced by Marvel Studios Animation.

The story picks up from the “What If… Zombies?!” episode of the animated show What If…? that aired in 2021. This series follows a group of survivors who are trying to stay alive while facing former heroes and villains who have turned into zombies. Bryan Andrews is the showrunner and director, with Zeb Wells as the head writer.

The show features a strong cast of characters voiced by actors who have appeared in previous MCU projects. Awkwafina plays Katy, Shang-Chi’s best friend, while David Harbour returns as Red Guardian, a Russian super-soldier and father figure to Yelena Belova. Simu Liu voices Shang-Chi,...

Marvel Zombies is an animated miniseries coming soon to Disney+, created by Zeb Wells. It’s based on the Marvel Comics series with the same name and will be the 16th TV show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (but it’s not part of the Sacred Timeline). The show is produced by Marvel Studios Animation and continues the story from the “What If… Zombies?!” episode of the animated series What If…?

The story takes place in an alternate timeline where many heroes and villains have turned into zombies, and a group of survivors fights to stay alive. Bryan Andrews is the showrunner and director, while Zeb Wells is the head writer.

The series has an impressive cast returning to voice their MCU characters. Awkwafina plays Katy, Shang-Chi’s best friend. David Harbour is back as Alexei Shostakov, also known as Red Guardian, a Russian super-soldier and father figure to Yelena Belova.

Marvel Studios is bringing a new animated show called Marvel Zombies to Disney+, and it’s already creating a lot of buzz. The series is based on the popular Marvel Comics of the same name and continues the story from the What If…? episode titled “What If… Zombies?!” that first came out in 2021.

This show takes place in an alternate timeline where many heroes and villains have turned into zombies, and a small group of survivors is trying to stay alive. Zeb Wells is the creator and head writer, while Bryan Andrews is the director and showrunner.

Marvel Zombies is the 16th TV series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is produced by Marvel Studios Animation. It uses the same animation style as What If…?, which is a unique mix of 3D models with 2D lighting to make it look like flat drawings. Stellar Creative Lab, which worked on What If…...

Marvel Studios is about to bring fans a new animated series called Marvel Zombies, coming to Disney+ later this year. The show is based on the popular Marvel Comics series and is part of Marvel’s expanding lineup on Disney+. Created by Zeb Wells and directed by Bryan Andrews, Marvel Zombies continues the story from the What If…? episode “What If… Zombies?!” which first aired in 2021.

The series is produced by Marvel Studios Animation and will be their first TV show rated TV-ma, meaning it’s aimed at a mature audience.

The story is set in an alternate timeline where many of the heroes and villains from the MCU have turned into zombies. A small group of survivors must try to stay alive while fighting against these undead former heroes.

The animation style matches the cel-shaded look fans saw in What If…?, with Stellar Creative Lab returning to bring the characters to life.

Who doesn't love Pedro Pascal? The four-time Emmy-nominated actor has recently made headlines for his starring role as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in the Marvel superhero film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. If you’re anything like us, you probably can’t get enough of watching him light up the screen.

The good news? Now, thanks to HBO Max, you don’t have to wait to see more of him. One of his most recent movies has just been added to the streaming platform, and chances are it completely flew under your radar.

Pascal is a very busy man. This year alone, he has been in five movies. You might have also watched him in the second season of the popular HBO post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us. But out of the five films he's been in, one of them just didn't seem to make as much noise,...

Rotten Tomatoes‘ 5 Most Anticipated TV and Streaming Shows of August is out, and it’s no wonder the upcoming Peacemaker Season 2 starring John Cena is at the top. Ever since the announcement a couple of months back, the hype train for its release has not slowed down one bit.

Despite the MCU animated series Eyes of Wakanda releasing in the same month, it seems like it didn’t receive the love that people are showing to this DC show’s new season. Therefore, this record of the most anticipated streaming series goes to the new Dcu.

Peacemaker Season 2 Deserves All the Hype

At one end of the spectrum, the MCU is trying its best to get out of an almost one-year box office and critical slump, while James Gunn‘s Dcu seems to be thriving.

After the seemingly successful box office win of Superman over MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps,...

Mahershala Ali's Blade reboot in the MCU has been stuck in production limbo since its announcement over six years ago. Ali took to the stage at San Diego Comic Con 2019 to announce that he was taking over as the Daywalker from Wesley Snipes, with the character finally being brought into the MCU fold. Over the past six years, the film has received yo-yoing updates and has now been indefinitely shelved by Marvel Studios. But, despite the project being kept on ice by Marvel, Ali's version of Blade will still be making its way to the MCU, and the first look at the character has finally been revealed. However, some might be disappointed by Blade's MCU debut (not counting Wesley Snipes in Deadpool & Wolverine).

The first look at Mahershala Ali's MCU Blade doesn't come to us via an official press release, nor is it from a trailer, teaser, poster,...

It's official: the latest installment in Marvel Studios' Black Panther franchise is a hit. Eyes of Wakanda has topped the streaming charts on Disney+.

According to FlixPatrol, as of Aug. 5, Eyes of Wakanda is the No. 1 show on Disney+ across all available markets. This is an impressive feat for the four-part animated anthology, considering the competition that is also part of the Top 10. The Black Panther prequel spinoff beat fan-favorite shows like Grey's Anatomy (No. 2), Modern Family (No. 4), Bluey (No. 5), How I Met Your Mother (No. 7), Criminal Minds (No. 8), and Desperate Housewives (No. 10).Eyes of Wakanda is also ranked No. 3 on Disney+'s Top 10 Overall list in the United States, with just Freaky Friday and a special look at Freakier Friday ranked ahead of the animated series.

What Is Eyes of Wakanda About?

Eyes of Wakanda follows the Hatut Zaraze, brave Wakandan warriors, as they complete dangerous missions to retrieve...

Marvel Zombies was first announced at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, as part of a splashy "Marvel Animation" slate reveal. Things went quiet after that as these shows seemingly took longer to produce than expected.

X-Men '97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have since premiered, of course, and this What If...? sequel is finally set for release this fall. It follows an episode titled "What If... Zombies?!" which saw several fan-favourite heroes, including Spider-Man, fight off a whole host of undead fan-favourites.

Now, we have a first look at Funko Pops for Marvel Zombies, with the biggest talking point being the reveal of Mahershala Ali's "Blade Knight." Returning from What If...? are the undead Hawkeye and Captain America, though the latter appears to still be without his legs.

While Ali had a brief voice cameo in 2021's Eternals, the Daywalker's solo movie remains stuck in limbo after being announced...

Anthony Ramos and Jasmine Cephas Jones were an item from 2014 when they first met on the production of Broadway’s Hamilton. They got engaged in 2018 and were celebrated by fans until everything came crashing down. His reputation took a major hit when he was accused of cheating on his fiancée.

In 2021, reports emerged that the Twisters actor was spotted with another woman in a strip club. A TikTok user claimed that she saw a man and a woman “sitting on stage, tipping the dancers and being all over each other.” She shared that she Googled the man and found out that he was engaged to his longtime girlfriend, who wasn’t the woman in the club.

The video spread on social media like wildfire after fans claimed that it was Ramos in the video. Ramos and Jones broke up not long after the rumors in November 2021, calling off their engagement...

Eyes of Wakanda has been quite an interesting look into Wakanda’s history. At the same time, the series does not seem to be painting a very good picture for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. FlixPatrol ranked the top 10 Disney+ shows around the world on 1 August. While there were several older shows in the list, Marvel’s latest series was nowhere to be seen, even though it was released the very same day.

For years, it has been tradition for Marvel to break streaming records when it releases a project, hitting the number 1 spot without much effort. However, watching the franchise struggle to even enter the top ten is a fall from grace no one wanted to witness. With this, one cannot help but wonder why Marvel’s shows are not working, even if they are of good quality.

Eyes of Wakanda’s Impressive Ratings Couldn’t Save It A still...

Streaming platforms continue to dominate our screens, delivering fresh stories that keep us glued to our devices. The week of June 30 to July 06, 2025, showcased a vibrant mix of original series, from intense dramas to reality TV, across major services like Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video.

Nielsen’s Streaming Content Ratings, tracking viewership on TVs in the U.S., revealed the most-watched original programs for that week. Below, we dive into the top 10, counting down from the tenth to the first, highlighting what made each series stand out.

10. ‘We Were Liars’ (2025) Universal Television

This Prime Video mystery drama, based on E. Lockhart’s novel, follows a wealthy family unraveling dark secrets on their private island. With eight episodes, it clocked 328 million viewing minutes.

The series hooks us with its blend of teen angst and suspense, centered on a tragedy that fractures the Sinclair family. Its atmospheric setting and sharp...

When you purchase through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

HBO Max is ready with an entertainment-packed August this year. The upcoming month will see the return of some of the popular superhero series, Peacemaker, as well as the streaming release of the brilliant and bloody film, Final Destination: Bloodlines. Just like every month, HBO Max is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the six new movies and TV shows coming to HBO Max in August 2025.

Final Destination: Bloodlines (August 1) Credit – Warner Bros.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is a supernatural horror film co-directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein from a screenplay co-written by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor. The 2025 film is the sixth entry into the Final Destination film franchise, and it follows Stefani Reyes, a college student who discovers that her grandmother saved the lives of several...

A unique action-comedy starring Pedro Pascal is scheduled to hit the HBO Max streaming service in August. The film offers another opportunity for audiences to see the popular actor, who has had a busy and successful year with several major film roles. This upcoming streaming release allows fans to see him in a distinctive project from the comfort of their homes.

The movie is an anthology film, weaving together multiple stories with a blend of action and humor. Set against the backdrop of 1980s Oakland, the film features a large cast of colorful characters. Despite a quiet theatrical run, the movie has earned high praise from the audiences who have seen it, building its status as an under-the-radar favorite. The interconnected tales and period setting create a unique viewing experience.

The film making its way to streaming is “Freaky Tales.” It will be available to stream on HBO Max starting Friday,...

An action-comedy starring Pedro Pascal that earned a high audience score is making its way to streaming. The film, which had a limited run in theaters, will soon be available to a much wider audience on HBO Max. This gives viewers who missed it the first time a chance to see what the buzz is about.

The movie is an anthology film, meaning it tells several different stories that are loosely connected. Set in Oakland, California, in 1987, the plot follows a diverse group of characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. These characters include teen punks, a female rap duo, a corrupt police officer, and an NBA star. The movie blends action, humor, and moments of intense conflict.

The film, titled “Freaky Tales,” will be available for streaming on HBO Max starting on Friday, August 8. It will also have its broadcast debut on HBO on Saturday, August 9. The movie premiered...

Marvel Studios' final Phase 5 project has made history on Disney+ with its twist ending, which differs from the ending of any MCU Phase before it. Phase 5 recently concluded with the release of Ironheart on Disney+, the last project before Marvel Studios began Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The final moments of Ironheart revealed a surprise team-up that leaves Phase 5 on an interesting note. 

The finale of Ironheart sees Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) meet with the demonic villain Mephisto (Sacha Baron Cohen), aka the entity who has been pulling the strings on Parker Robbins/The Hood (Anthony Ramos) all season. With the Hood out of the picture, Mephisto presents his offer to Riri instead, promising to grant her a wish in exchange for her allegiance. Riri decides to accept this offer in exchange for bringing back her dead best friend, Natalie (Lyric Ross), who was the crux of her grief all season.

Disney+’s Ironheart is making a big splash in the streaming world, hitting numbers that Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again never managed to reach during its entire first season. For the week of June 23, Ironheart earned 526 million minutes viewed across its three available episodes and landed a spot in the Top 10 streaming originals, debuting at number six on the Nielsen Streaming Chart.

Via Nielsen

The show is a Marvel miniseries created by Chinaka Hodge, based on the comic character Riri Williams. It is the 14th TV series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and keeps the same story world as the Marvel movies.

The plot follows Riri, an MIT student who returns home to Chicago after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She discovers secrets that blend technology with magic. Hodge serves as the head writer of the series.

Dominique Thorne stars as Riri Williams, also known as Ironheart, reprising her role from Wakanda Forever.

Disney+’s Ironheart is making waves with its streaming numbers, hitting a milestone that Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again never reached during its first season. For the week of June 23, Ironheart earned 526 million minutes viewed across its three available episodes, landing it in the Top 10 streaming originals.

The show debuted at number six on the Nielsen Streaming Chart, a spot that Daredevil: Born Again never managed to secure.

Via Nielsen

Ironheart is a Marvel miniseries created by Chinaka Hodge and is the 14th TV series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe produced by Marvel Studios. The story follows MIT student Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne, who returns home to Chicago after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

There, she uncovers secrets that mix technology with magic. Hodge serves as the head writer, shaping this new chapter in the MCU.

The cast features Dominique Thorne reprising her role as Riri Williams,...

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the HBO Max streaming service in August. The HBO Max August 2025 lineup includes a new season of Peacemaker, the feature films Final Destination Bloodlines, Freaky Tales, and The Legend of Ochi, and the comedy special Marc Maron: Panicked.

The schedule includes the HBO Original sports documentary series Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills and the HBO Original documentary series The Yogurt Shop Murders.

Peacemaker Featured Programming

Specials

Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Original Comedy Special)

Debuts August 1

In his second HBO special, comedian and podcaster Marc Maron offers up his nuanced perspective on our increasingly uncertain world. Performed, written, and executive produced by Marc Maron; executive produced by David Martin; produced by Avalon; and directed by Steven Feinartz.

Peacemaker

Series

Peacemaker Season 2 (Original Series)

The eight-episode season premieres on August 21 and episodes debut weekly at 9 p.

Pedro Pascal has had an incredible 2025, starring in a diverse range of films, from big-budget to small-scale productions. Aside from his upcoming performance as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic inFantastic Four: First Steps, the actor also recently had a large supporting role in two big A24 films: Ari Aster's Eddington and Celine Song's Materialists. Now, one of his projects, which has mostly flown under the radar, Freaky Tales, has a streaming release date. The announcement gives fans of the actor and crime comedy films the opportunity to experience a criminally underseen movie.

According to an official press release from Warner Bros. Discovery, Freaky Tales is set to release on HBO Max in the U.S. on Friday, August 8, before also being available on the HBO linear channel the following day on Saturday, August 9 at 8:00 Pm Et. Set in 1987 Oakland, Freaky Tales is described in the press release as...

“Freaky Tales”, the new live-action anthology feature, written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, stars Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn, Jay Ellis, Normani, Dominique Thorne, Jack Champion, Ji-young Yoo, Angus Cloud, Keir Gilchrist, Marteen, Michael X. Sommers, Yong Kim, Michelle Farrah Huang and Too $hort, streaming August 8, 2025 on HBO Max:

‘…set in 1987 Oakland, California, the film is a multi-track mixtape of colorful characters…

“…including an ‘NBA’ star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks and a debt collector…

“…on a collision course in a fever dream…

“…of showdowns and battles.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Pedro Pascal is emerging as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, in addition to being one of the most prolific actors alive. Pascal is having an incredible 2025, which started with him reprising his role as the surrogate father figure Joel Miller in HBO's The Last of Us season 2, earning a second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

This summer, he's starred in two A24 movies – Celine Song's romantic comedy Materialists and Ari Aster's neo-Western Eddington, and will also make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, releasing in theaters on July 25. However, Pascal has another movie that was released in theaters this year, but flew under the radar, and is now making its way onto streaming.

Freaky Tales Lands A Streaming Release Date Pedro Pascal's Period Action Comedy Boasts An 89% Rt Audience Score

Freaky Tales has landed a streaming release date.

While Julia Garner may be heralding his end when The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in cinemas later this week, HBO Max is heralding the streaming arrival of one of Pedro Pascal’s most slept-on films — Freaky Tales. The anthology project by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck landed in cinemas earlier this year, but, despite largely positive reviews from critics, failed to make a wave with audiences, most likely due to a limited theatrical release. Now, it’s gunning for a second shot in the spotlight, as the Lionsgate flick sets an arrival date of August 8.

If you love a movie that introduces a multitude of characters whose paths cross in bonkers ways and has a soundtrack that sounds like it’s straight out of Stranger Things, Freaky Tales is the film you didn’t know you needed. Set in 1987, audiences will follow along with Pascal’s Clint as he...

A Brief Overview ‘Ironheart’ follows Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) after the events that take place in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (Ryan Coogler serves as an executive producer in this series). In the first episode, Riri is expelled from MIT for plagiarism, so she returns home to Chicago with the upgraded suit she built at school (which looks ten times better than her previous one). Other Marvel series never felt like we were watching these characters interact with real locations, so it was nice to see ‘Ironheart’ utilize on-location shooting rather than blue screens galore. Chicago may be her home, but it doesn’t seem to feel like it anymore. We learn that her best friend, Natalie (Lyric Ross), and step-father, Gary (Laroyce Washington), were killed in a shooting at his garage right in front of her, and she is yet to recover from it. Grief plays a large role in the series,...

Before Iron Man and His Awesome Friendsairs on Disney Jr. next month, the web series that introduces this superhero team has made its way to Disney+'s streaming charts. Meet Iron Man and His Awesome Friends is a series of shorts designed for pre-school audiences. Its cast members consist of David Kaye, who has starred in multiple kids' shows throughout his career (including Ben 10: Omniverse and DuckTales), and Tony Hale, who voiced Forky in Toy Story 4, as well as appearing in other children's media like the Angry Birdsmovies,Inside Out 2,Hocus Pocus 2, and the live-action adaptation of Clifford the Big Red Dog.

According to FlixPatrol, Meet Iron Man and His Awesome Friends sits at #2 on Disney+'s Top 10 Overall charts in the United States on July 17, 2025, sandwiched between Z-o-m-b-i-e-s 4: Dawn of the Vampires and Z-o-m-b-i-e-s. The Meet Iron Man web series consists of ten, 4-minute-long shorts,...

Several exciting new Funko Pop figures have been released throughout the MCU Phase 5. The fifth phase of the MCU recently ended with the release of the Dominique Thorne-led Ironheart series, closing the book on an era of the franchise that spans from February 2023 to July 2025. The latest effort from Marvel Studios' super-powered brand was a little lackluster (to say the least), hitting highs like Deadpool & Wolverine and lows like Secret Invasion.

However, one thing has remained constant across all five phases of the MCU to this point: excellent Funko Pop figurines hitting store shelves for fans to collect. For years, the now-iconic toy brand has produced adorable shrunk-down versions of characters from across pop culture, with Marvel Studios (and the greater Marvel universe) being an anchor for the Funko brand. 

The Best Funko Pops From MCU Phase 5 Read full article on The Direct.

Medical dramas are a staple of our collective viewing, but few have had the wide-reaching and long-lasting impact of ABC’s flagship series, Grey’s Anatomy. For two decades, viewers from across the world have watched as the likes of Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), and more have been through a roller-coaster of chaos inside the walls of the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Already renewed for Season 22 back in April 2025, Grey's Anatomy is showing no signs of slowing down, even going toe-to-toe with some of the highest-profile new releases on streaming, and often coming out on top. As of July 17, 2025, Grey's Anatomy officially claimed the top spot in the global rankings on Disney+, becoming the most-watched TV series on the platform and outperforming a selection of big-name shows. Chief among these, and falling to second place, is the brand-new entry into the MCU, and the 14th television installment in the franchise,...

Iron Man may be gone from the MCU, even if Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the franchise in the guise of Doctor Doom, but he lives on in other projects, such as in Iron Man and His Awesome Friends, which is set to debut on Disney+ this August. The new animated series aimed at pre-schoolers follows the same kind of aesthetic as Spidey and his Amazing Friends, which originally debuted in 2021, and has already blasted its way into the Disney+ chart thanks to a preview special.

The synopsis of the show reads, “Join young genius inventor Tony Stark (Iron Man) and his team of heroic friends as they embark on thrilling adventures, using their tech, teamwork, and quick thinking to save the day!” Featuring the voices of Mason Blomberg, Kapri Ladd, and Aidyn Ahn, the series brings a colorful, child-friendly spin on Iron Man that looks to engage a...

As the highly controversial Disney+ series Ironheart wraps up its run, fans were treated to the first look at actor Sacha Baron Cohen as the Hell-Lord of Temptation, Mephisto. Now, as per industry insider Daniel Richtman (@DanielRPK/X), his appearance was just a preview of what’s to come.

According to the reports, Mephisto’s revelation in the series will directly transition the character into the events of the upcoming Midnight Sons movie. This validates the show’s runtime and connects the buildup with a major potential antagonist for the MCU as a whole.

How Are the Midnight Sons Connected to the Events in Ironheart? Dominique Thorne in and as Ironheart | Credits: Marvel Studios and Disney

With the introduction of Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, people wanted to learn more about the character of Ironheart in the future. Hailed as the successor of Robert Downey Jr‘s Iron Man,...

Ironheart producer Ryan Coogler spoke out about the online backlash facing Marvel Television’s most recent series. The first season of Ironheart, now streaming in its entirety on Disney+, stars Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a young Black tech prodigy who inadvertently becomes entangled with the darker, more mystical side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as she seeks out a way to pay for upgrades to her iron suit.

Like many recent superhero and genre shows starring minority actors in lead or prominent roles, Ironheart was hit with a wave of negative review bombing before the show’s premiere. According to GameRant, the Rotten Tomatoes audience score for Ironheart tanked in the days leading up to the show's premiere due to mass negative reviews based on rumors, character identity, and political grievances.

MovieWeb reported that some of the language used in these early "reviews" was overtly racist,...

How Ironheart’s Deal With Mephisto Left Room For An Unexpected Team-Up (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Marvel’s Ironheart ended its run on July 1, 2025, with its last episode, The Past is the Past. The closing scenes dropped two major reveals, one emotional, one cosmic. Riri Williams (played by Dominique Thorne) went toe-to-toe with Mephisto, the devilish entity finally brought to life by Sacha Baron Cohen, and made a deal that could flip the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Bringing back her late friend Natalie (Lyric Ross) might seem like a bold but emotional choice, but every move has a price in the MCU. Riri’s decision to strike a deal with Mephisto comes with unseen strings. Now, a wave of otherworldly consequences may be heading her way. And oddly enough, her former foe Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos) could be the one to save her skin.

First look at Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto in #Ironheart.

Just two weeks after the Ironheart finale aired on July 1, 2025, Disney+ is already bringing Riri Williams back to the spotlight in a brand-new Marvel series. The quick turnaround may surprise many at first glance, but the explanation is targeted at a specific audience. Marvel Studios' Ironheart series had a two-week run, releasing all six episodes and setting up the future for Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams in the MCU.

Marvel Studios already brought Riri Williams back to Disney+ two weeks after the Ironheart finale, this time in animated form. The young superhero returned in a brand-new mini-episode short titled "Meet Ironheart," which debuted as part of the newly launched Meet Iron Man and His Awesome Friends series on Disney+, a prelude to Iron Man and His Awesome Friends, coming in August.

Iron Man and His Awesome Friends Read full article on The Direct.

Mephisto's big arrival fooled Ironheart's Dominique Thorne until the last minute.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Thorne confirmed she was in the dark about the identity of Sacha Baron Cohen's famed, and much-spectulated, demonic entity during Ironheart's production, addressing the show's own attempt at misdirection in-universe. "I didn't know he would show up until we started filming, actually. We were finally up to that portion of our filming, so definitely the winddown," she said, revealing how "for the duration of the shoot, we had faux names. We talked a lot about Dormammu, and we kind of focused on him but it wasn't until we were getting ready to shoot that scene with Sasha Baron Cohen that I even knew [that was him]."

While Cohen's involvement with Ironheart was rumored for years, fans have theorized about Mephisto joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe for far longer, with both WandaVision and Agatha All...

Ebon Moss-Bachrach will be making his MCU debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where he plays Ben Grimm, aka, The Thing. It's no surprise that playing this character would require the use of CGI and motion capture, and, fortunately, a Marvel alum has come to save the day, and Moss-Bachrach's worries.

During The Fantastic Four: First Steps press tour, Moss-Bachrach revealed that Mark Ruffalo, known for playing Bruce Banner/The Hulk, reached out to him after he caught wind of his insecurities, as this would be his first time performing using motion capture. The actor then shared his gratitude for the kind words from Ruffalo, as they helped him perform his role in the upcoming feature.

"I got a really nice, very long, thorough text from Mark Ruffalo. My character is performance capture and I was a little anxious about that, it's something I've never done before. Mark immediately,...

A new Ironheart poster highlighted one of the series' secret big bads (aka the super-powered offspring of one Iron Man villain). Even though the Ryan Coogler-produced streaming series was firmly planted in the present-day of the MCU timeline, the show harkened back to the franchise's earliest project, as Dominque Thorne's Riri Williams grabs hold of the torch left behind by Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. However, it did this with much more than a familiar-looking suit of superhero armor, picking up on one key hanging thread left behind by the 2008 movie.

After being teased in various pieces of marketing prior to release, Alden Ehrenreich's Ezekiel Stane is now on full display in a new poster for Disney+'s Ironheart. Zeke is the super-charged son of Iron Man villain Obediah Stane (played by Jeff Bridges), who picked up the antagonistic banner left behind by his father in the new streaming show.

A new Artificial Intelligence has been introduced into the MCU, and it is far superior to anything Tony Stark invented. Ironheart's Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) is not an exact successor to Stark, but her technological prowess is similar to that of the Iron Man hero. From the start, Stark recruited the help of AI systems like Jarvis to assist his inventions, and Riri followed a similar route with her AI, Natalie.

When Iron Man introduced Jarvis in 2008 it was the dream AI assistant. The disembodied character (voiced by Paul Bettany) could render models, talk through problems, autonomously pilot the Iron Man suit, and even had a sense of humor. Eventually, Jarvis was enhanced by the Mind Stone and placed into a synthezoid body to become Vision. But this wasn't the only AI Stark created, with Friday replacing Jarvis as the hero's suit interface, and Edith controlling the Stark Industries network of defence systems.

The Ironheart producer has revealed when fans can expect to see Riri Williams in her iconic comic-accurate pink armor in the MCU. Starring Dominique Thorne and created by Chinaka Hodge, Ironheart follows Riri Williams as she builds one of the most advanced armors since Iron Man.

Since her MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Williams’ suits have been a constant point of intrigue for fans. And the new series reignited the conversation with three new additional suits, none of which closely resemble her classic comic book armor.

Zoie Nagelhout, the executive producer of the series, has told The Direct that though not yet, “we may see that pink suit in the future.” Nagelhout also explained that they chose to start with a scrappier, pieced-together suit to evolve toward the more polished, comic-accurate design gradually.

Ironheart’s MCU Debut Embraces Scrappy Origins — Comic Accuracy Saved For Future

Riri Williams’ debut...

Ironheart's producers provided new insight into why the McU's Disney+ show did not give Riri Williams her comic-accurate pink superhero suit. In her three-year tenure with Marvel Studios, Dominique Thorne's Ironheart has already donned a number of exciting costumes, displaying her technological genius and expertise. However, her pink-and-black suit from the pages of Marvel Comics still has not been adapted into live-action.

Ironheart producer Zoie Nagelhout revealed that the production team never considered Riri Williams' pink Ironheart suit as an option for her Disney+ series. While Riri did not get her final Ironheart suit until the penultimate episode of her solo show, it looked vastly different from what she normally wears in the comics from a color perspective.

Speaking exclusively with The Direct, Nagelhout gave credit to artist Mike Deodato and comic writer Brian Michael Bendis for their work on the suit that inspired the McU's red and black suit.

Marvel legend Robert Downey Jr. is a big supporter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest series, Ironheart, showing his support for the series in a new interview with its lead star, Dominique Thorne. However, aside from the heartwarming exchanges between the MCU stars, the sitdown features some notable vintage attire on Downey Jr. that's a must-have for Marvel fans.

Speaking during an exclusive Marvel interview, Downey Jr. caught up with Thorne regarding Ironheart, exploring the show's origins and the connection between Thorne's titular character and Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark/Iron Man. During the video conversation, Downey Jr. is seen wearing a West Coast Avengers shirt, a nod to the titular expanded Avengers team that first appeared in Marvel Comics during the 1980s and who most recently appeared in West Coast Avengers #4, which launched last November. This isn't the first time Downey Jr. has attracted attention with his wardrobe while talking about Ironheart,...

There were rumors that Sacha Baron Cohen had joined the MCU as Mephisto even before Ironheart entered production over 4 years ago, but Marvel Studios never actually made his casting official, and still managed to make his debut in the season finale feel like a pretty big deal.

As expected, the demonic sorcerer turns out to be the one who provided The Hood with his powerful cloak, but when Riri Williams defeats her former ally, Mephisto sets his eye on the budding hero instead.

After a sit-down, Williams strikes a Faustian bargain with "The Devil," with her friend Natalie resurrected in exchange for... her soul? That appears to be the implication, though what this means for Ironheart's "superhero" status moving forward remains to be seen.

Marvel has now shared a new look at Cohen as Mephisto in a brief outtake video. We also have a new teaser spotlighting shots from all six episodes.

Wolf Kasteler has two new senior vice presidents.

The bicoastal public relations and consulting firm has promoted Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes in the agency’s Los Angeles and New York offices, respectively. With their new senior vp titles, the pair will be charged with partnering across teams to help shape strategy, guide emerging talent and support operational procedures while working alongside vice presidents Lauren Appel, Christa Dallas, Caryn Leeds and Annick Oppenheim.

In a joint statement, Wolf Kasteler partners Annett Wolf and Annick Muller said, “They’ve consistently brought passion, strategy and unwavering commitment to our clients — leading major campaigns and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. This promotion reflects the trust they’ve earned from us, our clients and the industry.”

Jenkins started her career by working in global branding at ICM in 2010. She moved to ID-pr in 2011, and segued to a position at Wolf Kasteler two years later.

Wolf Kasteler has promoted veteran publicists Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes to senior VPs in the agency’s Los Angeles and New York offices, respectively.

Partners Annett Wolf and Annick Muller announced the news, saying of Jenkins and Hayes: “They’ve consistently brought passion, strategy, and unwavering commitment to our clients — leading major campaigns and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. This promotion reflects the trust they’ve earned from us, our clients, and the industry.”

Founded by Wolf in 1989 and joined by partner Lisa Kasteler in 1991, Wolf Kasteler represents top-tier artists, film and television content, awards consulting and corporate clients. In 2018, Muller was elevated to senior partner, joining Wolf and recently retired partner Kasteler.

In their new roles, Jenkins and Hayes will take on expanded leadership responsibilities — partnering across teams to help shape agency strategy, emerging talent and support operations alongside the existing VPs, including Lauren Appel,...

Public relations and consulting firm Wolf Kasteler has elevated Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes to SVP in the agency’s Los Angeles and New York offices, respectively.

“We are incredibly proud to announce the promotion of Allie Jenkins and Chelsea Hayes to Senior Vice President,” said Annett Wolf and Annick Muller, Partners at Wolf Kasteler. “They’ve consistently brought passion, strategy, and unwavering commitment to our clients — leading major campaigns and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence. This promotion reflects the trust they’ve earned from us, our clients, and the industry.”

As SVPs, Jenkins and Hayes will take on expanded leadership duties — partnering across teams to help shape agency strategy, emerging talent, and support operational excellence alongside the existing VPs which includes Lauren Appel, Christa Dallas, Caryn Leeds and Annick Oppenheim.

Jenkins began her career in Global Branding at ICM in 2010, and moved to Idpr in 2011 before joining...

Ryan Coogler, writer and director of 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, addressed a lingering fan narrative about the sequel—and he says the facts tell a different story. Wakanda Forever, currently available on Disney+, explores themes of loss and grief after the tragic death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman in 2020. The film, which stars Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, and Dominique Thorne, has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%, a significant drop from the 96% posted by Black Panther in 2018.

Often viewed as Coogler’s most polarizing film, the Marvel sequel remains an outlier when compared to the Rotten Tomatoes scores of the auteur’s other films, including the critically acclaimed Sinners (97%), Creed (95%), and Fruitvale Station (94%). However, despite those and similar critical scores, the Black Panther director says the idea that Wakanda Forever was unsuccessful is an inaccurate internet narrative.

Ryan Coogler Addresses...

Several Young Avengers characters are finally set to appear in the same show in the MCU later this year, although it might not be the crossover fans had in mind. The MCU has slowly introduced the new generation of young heroes in its live-action projects, and fans are eagerly waiting to see a Young Avengers team assemble. Marvel's animated shows like What If...? and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have offered a space for characters from disparate corners of the MCU to finally meet, and this will serve fans' hopes for the Young Avengers later this year.

Marvel Zombies is the next animated series out of Marvel Studios animation, which is scheduled to release on Disney+ on October 3. The series is a spin-off of the "What If...? Zombies?!" episode of What If...? that aired in 2021. As was the case in What If...?, Marvel Zombies will recruit MCU actors to voice their animated characters in the series,...

Ironheartwas not only a show filled with high-tech elements, but it also brought back a bit of magic that the MCU has already established. In episode 4, it was revealed that Riri Williams' (Dominique Thorne) friend Zelma, aims to go to Karmar-Taj, as its her reach school, the same place where Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) learned the mystic arts. As magic continues to play a role in the Marvel universe, could there be room for another magic school? Well, this Marvel actress believes so.

In an interview with Inverse, Regan Aliyah believes in the idea that "Strange Academy" could rival Harry Potter. In the show, her character, Zelma, revealed that actual masters could have trained her if her mother, Madeline, hadn't dropped out due to her pregnancy with Zelma. But regardless of the lack of professional training, Zelma can use this supernatural ability in her own way, to the point where...

Riri Williams actor Dominique Thorne explains what makes her MCU character such a unique superhero in Ironheart. Thorne's Riri Williams made a name for herself independently before she was recruited by the Wakandan throne to aid in Wakanda's short-lived war against Talokan. Despite her Black Panther: Wakanda Forever adventure, Riri Williams continued to create her own Ironheart suits, which put her at odds with some questionable characters.

In an interview with Collider, Dominique Thorne addresses Riri Williams' moral complexity. Thorne highlights Riri's refusal to accept the role of superhero, which makes her stand apart from most Marvel heroes. That said, Riri is still inherently courageous and noble, which pulls her into the superhero scene. While she doesn't seek out battles, Ironheart finds herself in the position to do the best she can in every situation. Read Dominique Thorne's full comments below:

"That's something that makes me really excited...

Ironheart's finale finally introduced the McU's version of Mephisto, played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Like his comic book counterpart, the villain seems to have a habit of making deals in exchange for someone's soul.

In Parker Robbins' case, that meant giving him The Hood so he could achieve everything he wanted. As for Riri Williams, she gave up her soul and was rewarded with the resurrection of her best friend, Natalie.

However, Ironheart was also a little ambiguous when it came to what selling a soul actually means for someone. Is Riri destined to grow increasingly more demonic in nature as Parker did before her (at least until he was separated from The Hood), and was this a one-off interaction or the start of a new partnership?

One eagle-eyed fan has noticed that, in the background of the show's final scene, The Hood can be seen draped over Riri's armour.

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for the Season 1 finale of 'Ironheart'Season 1 of Disney+'s Ironheart just aired its back half and closed out Riri Williams's (Dominique Thorne) solo story on a note that has major implications for the entirety of the MCU. Mephisto (Sacha Baron Cohen) finally revealed himself in a last-minute stunner, marking the culmination of the young Black genius's journey from working with technology in Chicago to clashing with magical forces that test the limits of machinery. He had a proposal to make to Riri, too. Despite knowing from The Hood (Anthony Ramos) what a deal with the devil can do to a person, she decides to take on whatever sinister consequences there are to bring back her dear friend Natalie. The actual Natalie, not the AI companion she accidentally created. With her character's return to life and the implications of Mephisto's presence, Lyric Ross has some...