Seven years after it was released, a forgotten Iron Man idea from Avengers: Infinity War may be about to reappear in the upcoming MCU show, Ironheart. Avengers: Infinity War finally brought together a mulтιтude of characters who made their MCU debuts in the latter half of the Infinity Saga. This is partly what made the movie so compelling (and successful), as fans got to experience interactions between characters who were, quite literally, worlds apart, such as the now iconic scene in which Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange first encounter the Guardians of the Galaxy.

After reuniting for a final brawl in Avengers: Endgame, the merging of worlds has been piecemeal at best. The best instance of this in the Multiverse Saga was when Doctor Strange used sorcery to help Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but until Avengers: Doomsday unites the Multiverse Saga’s foremost superheroes against Doctor Doom, such team-ups feel decidedly distant. Still, it appears as though the MCU’s next show will at least feature a hint of Doctor Strange and his forgotten fusion with Iron Man.

Avengers: Infinity War Scrapped A Doctor Strange And Iron Man Crossover Idea

Doctor Strange Nearly Wore Iron Man’s Armor

The scene in which Iron Man and Spider-Man rescue Doctor Strange in Avengers: Infinity War nearly went differently. Instead of simply forcing Ebony Maw into space by blowing a hole in his Q-Ship’s hull, one version of the script had Iron Man transfer his nanotech armor to Doctor Strange to protect him from Ebony Maw’s torture needles. The armored Doctor Strange was even depicted in concept art designed by Phil Saunders, who posted the image to Instagram in February 2020, providing an explanation of the scene in the caption.

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It is interesting to see how the armor would have been altered to better reflect Doctor Strange’s characterization. While the sleek Mk L design elements still shine through, Strange’s armor encircles the Eye of Agamotto around Strange’s neck in lieu of Tony Stark’s arc reactor. It is also engraved with runes, and the gauntlets’ repulsor beam palms now cause Strange’s typically orange-hued magic to shimmer cyan. It would have been interesting to see if and how this armor worked in tandem with Strange’s magic, and now Ironheart may be about to deliver.

Ironheart Is Combining Doctor Strange’s Magic With Iron Man’s Technology

Ironheart Is Using Familiar Runes In The Ironheart Trailer

Ironheart is due to premiere on Disney+ on June 24, with trailers now delivering some illuminating developments for the character. The latest Ironheart trailer is perhaps the most consequential, as it shows exactly what kind of armor Riri Williams will ultimately create as she strives to make something iconic. In a few short sequences, it is clear that Riri Williams’ suit of armor utilizes some form of magic as it emanates familiar orange runes typically manifested by sorcerers like Doctor Strange and Wong.

This isn’t too surprising a development, as Riri Williams is due to reluctantly team up with Anthony Ramos’ The Hood, a mystical character with shady connections to otherworldly beings. The prevailing theory is that his influence will spur Riri to create a magic-imbued suit of armor, finally realizing the suit of armor that Doctor Strange never got to wear. Whether this magic is specifically tied to the suit, or whether Riri herself has learned to use it, remains unclear – but this could be an unspeakably powerful creation.

How Powerful Is Ironheart’s Magic-Enhanced Armor Explained

Ironheart Could Be As Powerful As Doctor Strange

The extent of this armor’s power will remain unclear until Ironheart airs. Nevertheless, it is safe to ᴀssume that a suit of armor that bridges Iron Man’s tech and Doctor Strange’s magic is sure to be brimming with new capabilities that have thus far eluded the MCU. If Riri can wield magic that is even nearly as powerful as Doctor Strange, then this suit of armor could be a game-changer, turning her into one of the MCU’s most powerful superheroes as she combines the might of two others.

Then again, it remains unlikely that Riri Williams will be as powerful as Doctor Strange or Iron Man. Not only would this risk diminishing the years-spanning achievements and journeys of both by gifting their powers wholesale to a brand-new character, but it would also shift the wider power balance of the MCU substantially. While further details about Ironheart’s story are still forthcoming, it could be instead that Riri will strike a devilish deal to gain these powers, only to relinquish them after recognizing the error of her ways.