Spelman College was buzzing this week as actress Dominique Thorne pulled up to talk all things Ironheart, Marvel’s highly anticipated new series, dropping June 24 on Disney+.

Thorne, who first introduced us to Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is stepping fully into the spotlight as the genius inventor from Chicago. And if what she shared at Spelman is any indication, Ironheart is about to shift the game.

The show isn’t just tech but the from the trailers shown at the fireside chat, it’s tech meets magic. Ironheart will explores what happens when innovation collides with something unexplainable. Riri’s facing off with mystical forces, balancing being one of the smartest minds in the Marvel Universe, and still figuring out who she is outside of the suit.

But beyond the storyline, the show’s foundation is just as powerful. It’s directed by Black women. Edited by Black women. And half the writers’ room? Black voices. This isn’t representation for the sake of it, this is representation that is driving the storytelling.

And we can’t talk about Ironheart without mentioning Ryan Coogler, who’s back in the producer’s seat fresh off his latest project Sinners.

The energy at Spelman felt like more than just a press stop. It felt intentional. Dominique’s presence on that stage, at an HBCU, in front of Black women who are shaping the future was the exact kind of moment Ironheart represents. It’s not just about who’s wearing the suit. It’s about who’s writing, filming, editing, and owning the story.

Ironheart premieres June 24 on Disney+.