Warning! This review contains SPOILERS for Ironheart season 1, episodes 1-3.

Marvel’s Ironheart introduces a new MCU character with close ties to Tony Stark seventeen years after Iron Man and thirteen years after he almost made his debut in The Avengers. Ironheart sees Riri Williams grow into her superhero persona without help from Wakanda, which requires her to find alternative funding sources and face new challenges all by herself. Apart from Parker Robbins and his mystical Hood powers, Riri also meets a major MCU character with a complicated past.

Ironheart‘s three-episode premiere introduces Alden Ehrenreich’s Ezekiel Stane, who first poses as Joe McGillicuddy and later reveals his true idenтιтy to Riri Williams. Ezekiel is the son of Jeff Bridges’ Obadiah Stane, former Stark Industries CEO and ᴅᴇᴀᴅly rival of Tony Stark’s. In the comics, Ezekiel Stane follows in Obadiah’s footsteps and becomes an armored supervillain, using his tech knowledge and cybernetic enhancements to honor his father’s legacy.

Ironheart’s Ezekiel Stane Almost Made His MCU Debut In The Avengers

Joss Whedon Considered Adding Ezekiel Stane To The Avengers

Seventeen years after Tony Stark defeated Iron Monger in Iron Man, Ironheart pays homage to the MCU’s first villain by introducing Obadiah Stane’s son as Riri Williams’ ally. However, Ezekiel Stane was almost The Avengers‘ secondary antagonist, as director Joss Whedon once revealed to Thrillist. At one point, Whedon thought Loki might not be able to carry the movie’s main antagonist role by himself, so he added Ezekiel.

According to Whedon, the draft he wrote with Ezekiel Stane was “huge,” but it didn’t work. It was Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige who allegedly scrapped the idea, and Marvel Studios co-president Louis D’Esposito said The Avengers was on the right track without Ezekiel. What exactly Ezekiel’s plans could have looked like in The Avengers is unknown, but he probably would have wanted revenge for his father’s death.

The Avengers writer Zak Penn once revealed to CBR that he also considered adding Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull to The Avengers as a secondary antagonist. Meanwhile, Sony came close to adding The Amazing Spider-Man‘s Oscorp Tower to the MCU’s New York for The Avengers, thus suggesting that Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man existed in the MCU. In the end, it was for the better that The Avengers didn’t use these ideas.

Ezekiel Stane’s Introduction Suits Ironheart More Than The Avengers

Ezekiel Stane Contributes A Lot To Riri Williams’ Story

Ezekiel Stane could have been a formidable threat to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in The Avengers, especially if he knew how to weaponize the knowledge his father Obadiah gained from Stark Industries and turn it against Iron Man. Still, Ezekiel likely wouldn’t have had enough time to shine in The Avengers, and his presence would have been a little distracting. Loki didn’t need any help from an Earthly villain to pose a huge danger to the world.

Now, Alden Ehrenreich’s Ezekiel Stane suits Ironheart‘s theme of fresh beginnings, with both Ezekiel and Riri seeking to leave their traumatic past behind (and the deaths of their respective fathers) by making the most from their tech knowledge. Whether they want it or not, Ezekiel and Riri are carrying the legacy of Obadiah Stane and Tony Stark, respectively. Their connection to the MCU’s first-ever hero and first-ever villain is a welcome addition to Phase 5.

Ironheart and future MCU installments can take their time to develop Ezekiel Stane as a complex character. Ezekiel could continue to seek useful purposes for his inventions and form a stable heroic duo with Ironheart, but he could also abandon his efforts and become the MCU’s next Iron Monger just as easily. Due to his link to Riri Williams, Ezekiel Stane might be a great candidate for the Young Avengers’ ally or main antagonist.

Ezekiel Stane’s Phase 5 Debut Helps The MCU Fix An Ironheart Problem

Ezekiel Stane Is Riri Williams’ Closest Connection To Tony Stark

In the source material, Riri Williams acquires a Tony Stark AI who mentors her and ᴀssists her in battle. Since Robert Downey Jr. retired his Iron Man portrayal in Avengers: Endgame, Riri is unlikely to meet any version of Tony Stark. The MCU’s Ironheart series shifts focus to Riri Williams’ NATALIE AI instead, but Riri’s ties to Iron Man remain difficult to explore.

While Riri Williams won’t meet Iron Man, the MCU can pull her closer to Tony Stark by having her cross paths with characters commonly ᴀssociated with the Armored Avenger. Besides Ezekiel Stane, characters like Maya Hansen, Justin Hammer, Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, and Rhodey Rhodes could meet Ironheart next. Villains like Crimson Dynamo, Blizzard, and Spymaster are also some of the Iron Man villains Riri Williams could fight to honor Iron Man’s MCU legacy.