Riri Williams Finds Friendship and Trust in ‘Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron’

Ironheart arrives today! "Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron" premieres on Marvel HQ later today at 4pm PT.

During WonderCon this past weekend, the cast of “Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron” Kathreen Khavari (Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel), Milana Vayntrub (Doreen Green/Squirrel Girl), Kamil McFadden (Rayshaun Lucas/Patriot), and the newest member Sofia Wylie (Riri Williams/Ironheart), were joined by Cort Lane (svp, animation and family entertainment) to talk with Marvel.com about the team dynamic and what it meant to welcome Ironheart into the fold.

“Riri is kind of withdrawn because of everything that’s happened to her," explained Lane. "She’s so focused on her projects and her inventions, that she sort of lives in that world and has shut down the outside world. And it’s these other kids who show her that not only are there great things you can do with your skills, but you can do it with us and we can help each other.”

Wylie described how Riri’s backstory as why she’s so hesitant to open herself up. “Riri losing her stepfather was a very big turning point in her life," revealed Wylie. "Where she just shut everybody out completely—and from that point on, there was this boundary, an emotional wall that she put up—where she couldn’t form any new and strong connections with anybody because it was just too much heartbreak.”

The team of Ms. Marvel and Squirrel Girl are opposites in their personalities, and that’s what makes their team-up work, especially in bringing Riri on board. “What we’re trying to do with 'Marvel Rising' is show dynamic friendships,” said Vayntrub. “Women working together to make the world a better place, we can’t see that enough.”

“Riri has got a lot that she’s still trying to work through emotionally," Khavari added, in agreement. "I could see Kamala really trying to connect with her and wanting to work through Riri’s trauma to kind of get past that to help bring out the best and the most confident version of Riri.”

“There are quite a few members who came from the path that she came from as far as the lone wolf mentality,” explained MaFadden, noting how Riri isn’t the only person dealing with trust issues. "But seeing so many of those people come together and have that friendship and that trust is allowing her to let her guard down a little more.”

Riri realizes the importance of trust within a team is all a part of growing up. “The Secret Warriors really teach her that friendship, love, and relationships are so important, and you can’t go at it alone," explained Wylie. "She’s becoming this amazing young woman because of them.”

"Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron" premieres on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel on Wednesday, April 3 at 4:00pm PT!

Don't miss the premiere of "Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron" on the Marvel HQ YouTube channel today at 4:00pm PT! Join us over at Marvel HQ at that time to watch the special live as well as live-chat with select voice talent!

In conjunction with the premiere of "Marvel Rising: Heart of Iron", select voice talent from the special, including Sofia Wylie, Kathreen Khavari, Kamil McFadden, and more will be live-chatting with fans on Marvel HQ at the same time as the premiere! Click here to participate in the live-chat and talk to some of your favorite "Marvel Rising" stars!

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