Ironheart Star Reveals Off-Screen Doctor Strange Encounter

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One of Ironheart’s newest characters hinted at a Doctor Strange-focused storyline in the latest MCU Disney+ series, which took place off-screen. Although Strange’s segment in the MCU played a minor role in this series, it delivered on the anticipation for a grand confrontation between technology and magic. However, towards the latter half of the season, viewers were treated to some thrilling action sequences that occurred outside Riri Williams’ individual exploits.

Warning – the rest of this article contains spoilers for Ironheart.

In a playful hint, Ironheart star Regan Aliyah revealed that the storyline where her character, Zelma Stanton, encounters Doctor Strange has already unfolded within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). At Zelma’s debut, we discover her and her family’s association with mystical powers, as her mother was a pupil at Kamar-Taj. Given numerous references to Doctor Strange in this series, the main intrigue revolves around just how intimate their relationship might be.

In conversation with Digital Spy, Aliyah highlighted a pivotal scene where Riri’s mother intentionally opens a jar of maggots, causing Riri to remark, “‘Once they infest your mind, it’s tough to expel them.’” As per Aliyah, this suggests that “her past events have already transpired,” as Zelma sought Strange’s assistance to remove these metaphorical ‘maggots’ from her.

It’s likely that many comic enthusiasts will recognize a moment when she takes hold of a jar and warns, “Hey, don’t touch that. They can be tricky to remove once they’ve entered your mind.” This implies that her past experiences with these ‘mind maggots’ have occurred, as she had them embedded in her brain and needed Doctor Strange’s assistance to extract them. Hence, she’s already familiar with this character.

Later, she shifted the conversation towards potential developments on the Strange front should Ironheart be revived for another season. She expressed her belief that Zelma might not advance much unless someone steps in to tell her, “You’re not quite grasping the situation at hand.

If there is a Season 2 or if this storyline continues in some way, it seems unlikely that the character will venture too far on her own without someone eventually pulling her back and saying something like, “You may not realize it now, but you are making a mistake.

Although Doctor Strange hasn’t shared any on-screen encounters with Ironheart’s characters thus far, these lines hint at his role in Zelma’s life that extends into the past. Notably, her mother being a previous student at Kamar-Taj raises questions about the timeline of this story and its potential implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole.

Debuting in two installments on June 24 and July 1, the Disney+ series “Ironheart” concludes Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It follows the tale of Riri Williams, a character first introduced in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever“. After her time at MIT, Dominique Thorne’s character returns to her hometown of Chicago, encountering an ominous new foe that she has never faced before. The entire six episodes of “Ironheart” are now available for streaming on Disney+.

Will Zelma Stanton Meet Doctor Strange On Screen in the MCU?

In the future, it seems the most plausible scenario for Zelma and Strange to encounter each other again or depict their past interactions could be through a film rather than on Disney+, given that Strange has not yet appeared in live-action there. If a second season of Ironheart arises or the anticipated Strange Academy series comes to fruition, it’s possible they may meet there. However, it’s highly likely their reunion will take place in a movie.

If Marvel Studios decides to launch a project focused on the Young Avengers, there’s a strong possibility that Zelma could reappear. Given the rapport between Zelma and Ironheart and her connections with Doctor Strange, it’s plausible that they might become part of this team. Even though Zelma may not be a permanent member, her relationships could draw these characters together. Fans are excited to witness the Young Avengers unite and eventually encounter the established Avengers.

Additionally under consideration is the prospect of Doctor Strange 3, allegedly in production with Sam Raimi resuming his directorial role. This could very well be where Kamar-Taj reappears within the MCU, providing a platform for all characters attending this gathering to reunite there and further unfold the next enchanting storyline involving magic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Regardless of the circumstances or timing, it’s clear that technology and magic will be significant elements in upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) stories. As the franchise delves into even more exciting narrative possibilities, these two aspects are poised to work together harmoniously.

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2025-07-04 20:34