Superhero actress Dominique Thorne splits her time between Wakanda and her home in tiny Delaware.
Thorne makes her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe starring as Ironheart in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” This sequel to the 2018 blockbuster officially opens Friday, and hits some local theaters Thursday.
Thorne is likely to have substantial screen time since she’s also starring in the “Ironheart” TV show on Disney+ in the fall of 2023.
In the much-anticipated sequel, Ironheart, whose real name is Riri Williams, is a young genius inventor who created the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man (Tony Stark), the man who inspired her. Riri is from the South Side of Chicago and lost her stepdad when he was fatally struck in the heart in a drive-by shooting.
According to her official bio, the character’s first appearance in a comic book was in “Invincible Iron Man (2015) #7.”
Thorne, who will be making her MCU debut with “Wakanda,” couldn’t be reached for comment for this story.
Last year, the actress told Empireonline.com that it blew her mind that she landed the “Ironheart” role without having to audition for Disney+. “I was at home in Delaware and I got a call asking if I would like to play this role,” she recalled. “It was the best phone call I could have ever received.”
According to a report from Variety.com, Wilmington native Aubrey Plaza also is slated to make her MCU debut, in the “WandaVision” spinoff show: “Agatha: Coven of Chaos” on Disney+
Marvel hasn’t confirmed Plaza’s debut yet. But we’ll stay tuned.
Tween remembers meeting Chadwick Boseman
Tiana Sirmans, 12, of New Castle, met actor Chadwick Boseman the year he portrayed superhero T’Challa, when the actor was at the top of his fame.
Sirmans began making appearances on ABC’s “Good Morning America” after modeling for several designers during Fashion Week in New York City in 2017. In 2018, when she was just 7, she met Boseman when he was taping a segment for the show.
Two years later, Boseman passed way from colon cancer, a devastating blow to the franchise. He’d been slated to reprise his role in “Wakanda Forever.”
Tiana said she has fond memories of meeting Boseman, who rested his arm on her shoulder on the set of “Good Morning America.”
“I always remember it because after that, he set off a chain reaction with other members from ‘Black Panther’ doing that on the same shoulder. It was cool,” she remembered.
Although she’s appeared on “Good Morning” at least four times, the time she met Boseman was her debut. And it was extra special to Tiana, because meeting the star set her on the path to working in entertainment, she said.
Tiana’s mom, Tiffany, said her daughter is a member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists and has interviewed and met a laundry list of big names including Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Garner, Michael B. Jordan and others.
The New Castle tween is a writer for the outlet KIDS FIRST! and plans to review an early screening of “Wakanda Forever” in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.
Boseman meanwhile is still heavy in her heart.
“He’s definitely a very inspiring and very amazing person. He is someone that no one will ever forget, of course, because he played Black Panther.”
‘I’m bringing a box of tissues’
Tywanda Cuffy of Newark is looking forward to seeing “Wakanda Forever” with her husband and two young children.
Even though the film is set in a fictional Africa, Cuffy said it’s still important that her Black children get to see people who look like them in a positive way on the big screen.
“Their life is about exploration and imagination, and being creative. Fictional characters have a strong presence in that space,” she explained.
Jazmine Gould of Dover agrees. She said she will see “Wakanda Forever” while wearing an African-inspired outfit.
But she doesn’t think she’ll have an iron heart when she has to confront Boseman’s death.
“I’m bringing a box of tissue with me because I know this movie is going to touch my soul,” Gould confided.
“This is a great movie that represents our culture and it being a predominantly all-Black cast is going to show our children that a superhero can be a Black man or woman.”
For more info on ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ visit fandago.com and marvel.com.
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Andre Lamar is the features/lifestyle reporter. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com.
