News

Google I/O is starting next week to usher in a new era of Android (get ready for some major AI, XR, and Android 16 news), but before then, we still have plenty of tech news stories to cover from the past seven days.Samsung launched an ultra-thin phone, DJI gave us a best-in-class drone, and the boombox returned. To catch up on all that and more, scroll down to see the week's seven biggest tech stories.Once you're all caught up, be sure to check out our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend (May 16).

We touched the Galaxy’s Edge

After months of teasers, we finally went hands-on with the Galaxy S25 Edge, and as our hands-on review calls it, the Samsung phone for people who love to hate Samsung phones.As US mobile editor Philip Berne wrote, “The Galaxy S25 Edge is the solution to a very simple formula. Take a Galaxy S25 Plus. Shave 1.5mm off the thickness by removing the zoom camera and shrinking the battery. Add a 200MP camera sensor. Wrap it in titanium. Voila: Galaxy S25 Edge!”The thinness and lightness are something you have to experience for yourself. The design has already won over several of our writers and our social media editor, who believes it not only looks fantastic but feels great in your hand.

Read more: I'll say it: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is the best-looking phone of the year so far

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro took flight

(Image credit: DJI)

We’ve tested the latest DJI drone, and it has certainly impressed with fantastic flight performance, speed, and power, making it hands-down the best Mavic drone to date.That’s why our DJI Mavic 4 Pro review awarded it a full 5 stars.The camera can be tilted in almost any direction, making it super versatile, it boasts a fantastic triple lens setup, and the bigger battery means you can fly it for longer between charges, meaning it offers an unparalleled degree of creative options for your next film.It’s not just a great DJI drone, it might simply be the best drone you can buy right now.

Read more: The DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone is something special

Garmin unveils a pair of new Forerunner watches

We were expecting one new Garmin Forerunner to drop very soon, but Garmin has gone and surprised us with two new specialist running watches. The Garmin Forerunner 570 and Garmin Forerunner 970 offer some new tools, such as a speaker and microphone (all the better to take quick calls on-wrist while working out), a new Evening Report, and Garmin's brightest AMOLED displays yet. The 970 packs extra features like a titanium bezel, some unique new metrics like Running Tolerance and an ECG function. If that's not enough, we also got a new heart rate monitor, the HRM 600, which can work with the 970 to generate those advanced running metrics.It's all flashy, cool-looking stuff, but these devices aren't cheap: the 570 costs $549.99 / £459.99 / AU$999 while the 970 clocks in at $749.99 / £629.99 / AU$1,399. We're looking forward to testing, but our first instinct is that either would be a great performance boost for serious runners and owners of, say, the much older Forerunner 945 – however, those who own more recent Garmin watches probably won't be tempted to upgrade.

Read more: Garmin surprise launches two new Forerunner watches

The boombox is back

Don’t call it a comeback.The new We Are Rewind GB-001 is a bona fide cassette boombox complete with modern upgrades like Bluetooth 5.4, a 3,000mAh battery perfect for 10 hours of speaker playback, and 104W of power – more than our classic boombox ever had.It looks like everything you could ask for, frankly, perfectly combining 2020s and 1980s tech into a package that we’re very excited to try out when we can. We know it’ll launch at the very reasonable £379 / €449 (about $505 / AU$781), but for now, there’s no confirmed release date.

Read more: We Are Rewind's GB-001 is a real cassette boombox, but it's got Bluetooth too

Streaming had a big week

It’s been another busy week in the world of entertainment. Indeed, not only have we been treated to a new Superman trailer and the first official teaser for Marvel’s Ironheart TV show, but also a wealth of big announcements at this year’s Upfront ad-based trade show.And when we say big, we mean it. From the news that Max will be rechristened HBO Max once more in mid-2025, and a whole host of TV show renewals by Netflix, there’s been plenty to read about over the past week.Huge as those reveals are, though, we were most impressed with Disney’s Upfront 2025 presentation. If you missed them, you can catch up on the seven biggest Disney+ and Hulu announcements here. Believe us when we say you’ll want to do so, too!

Read more: 7 of the biggest Disney+ and Hulu TV show announcements from Disney Upfront 2025

Google gave Android a makeover

Ahead of Google I/O next week Google hosted the Android Show, offering us a glimpse at the interface changes coming with Android 16.We didn’t see any new devices running the software (urgh!) but the new Material 3 Expressive guidelines call for an extensive use of color, motion effects and a whole host of visual cues that feels like they’re directly targeting 18-24 year olds – read: the most stalwart iPhone fans.In its official blog post, Google says, “It's time to move beyond 'clean' and 'boring' designs to create interfaces that connect with people on an emotional level.”We’ll have to see how this approach plays out when Android 16 starts rolling out later this year.

Read more: Google just showed us the new look of Android 16

Apple CarPlay Ultra finally hit the road

Apple’s next-gen CarPlay system was supposed to land back in 2024, but after an extended software pitstop, it’s finally arrived – well, if you own a new Aston Martin SUV, at least.CarPlay Ultra is currently only available on the new Aston Martin DBX, but its debut has given us a taste of what’s coming to other cars (including those from Hyundai, Kia, and more). And that is a slick, iPhone-style software experience that takes over your car’s whole infotainment system.As with iOS, you can tailor CarPlay’s color schemes and wallpapers, but you can also tweak the climate control, radio stations, and heated seats, all from the same place. It’s about time, but hopefully we won’t have to wait another year for it to get a wider rollout.

Read more: Apple Carplay Ultra finally rolls out – here are 4 things you need to know about its Aston Martin debut

Pride and Prejudice TV show: key information- Six-part series coming to Netflix- Written by author Dolly Alderton- Will be a "period-faithful" adaptation- Production will commence in the UK later this year- No official release date yet- Three cast members announced, including Olivia Colman

A Pride and Prejudice TV show is on its way to Netflix and production is scheduled to begin in the UK later this year. Another adaptation of the iconic novel by Jane Austen is a more-than-pleasing revelation. For me, Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy was (and probably still is) my Roman Empire. And now it's time for someone new to step into the role and win over the hearts of many.Directed by Heartstopper's Euros Lyn and written by Dolly Alderton, no doubt the romantic drama will be making a bid to become one of the best Netflix shows. But there's a lot to live up to. Fortunately, as one of the best streaming services it feels in safe hands. As we await the show's arrival, here's everything we know about the Pride and Prejudice TV show from release date, to cast, to plot and more.

Pride and Prejudice TV show: is there a release date?

A post shared by Netflix UK & Ireland (@netflixuk)A photo posted by on

The Pride and Prejudice TV show does not have a release date yet. In fact, we imagine it won't have one for a while, given that the show was only announced on April 10.But, it has been at least been revealed that the Pride and Prejudice TV show will start production in the UK this year (as per Tudum).In an Instagram post, featured above, influencer Jack Ben Edwards can be seen reading a copy of the book by Jane Austen whilst on the phone reciting information about the new TV show adaptation for Netflix, which we'll jump into more below.

Pride and Prejudice TV show: has a trailer been released?

Considering the cast and crew are yet to start filming the Pride and Prejudice TV show, we don't have an official trailer to share just yet.

Pride and Prejudice TV show: confirmed cast

A post shared by Netflix UK & Ireland (@netflixuk)A photo posted by on

While news is fairly thin on the ground for when we can expect the Pride and Prejudice TV show, what we do have is three very important casting announcements:

Emma Corrin as Elizabeth BennetJack Lowden as Mr. DarcyOlivia Colman as Mrs. Bennet

Of course, the roles of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy are the most important casting choices of this entire adaptation.And speaking to Tudum about taking on the iconic titular role, Emma Corrin said: "Playing Elizabeth Bennet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To be able to bring this iconic character to life, alongside Olivia and Jack, with Dolly's phenomenal scripts, is truly the greatest honor. I can't wait for a new generation to fall in love with this story all over again."

Pride and Prejudice TV show: story synopsis and rumors

A tale of romance that's stood the test of time (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers for Pride and Prejudice to follow.

Pride and Prejudice was first published in 1813 and is one of the most iconic novels from author, Jane Austen. Unsurprisingly, it's had its fair share of adaptations across film, TV and theatre in the last 200 years with actors like Keira Knightley and Jennifer Ehle playing the Elizabeth Bennet's to Matthew Macfadyen and Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy.And it's also one of the most iconic love stories in the history of fiction. So, if you don't know the plot already, then you're in for a real treat. We won't ruin it here though aside from saying that it follows the complicated and bewildering relationship between Elizabeth, the daughter of a country gentleman, and the rich and complex Mr. Darcy, a rich estate owner.Fortunately, for fans of the timeless tale, this six-part limited series for Netflix will be a classic retelling rather than a modernisation.Speaking to Tudum, Alderton expanded on the news that her adaptation will hew closely to the original text: "Once in a generation, a group of people get to retell this wonderful story and I feel very lucky I get to be a part of it."Adding: "Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is the blueprint for romantic comedy – it has been a joy to delve back into its pages to find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life."The book is a gift to adapt – packed with drama and depth as well as comedy and charm. In it lies the opportunity to examine the complexities of love, family, friendship and society, while aspiring to Austen's delightfully observational voice."Describe as a "period-faithful" adaptation, if like Mary Bennet you find yourself saying: "I should infinitely enjoy a book" then Netflix are set to turn your head from the pages and up to the small screen.

Will there be more seasons of Pride and Prejudice?

The Pride and Prejudice TV show is a limited series (Image credit: BBC)

The Pride and Prejudice TV show has been described as a "limited series", which generally means that it will encapsulate the story into the six episodes it has been announced will be released on Netflix. As such, as can't imagine there will be more seasons of the show past this point.

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our guides on 3 Body Problem season 2, Stranger Things season 5, Arcane season 2, and One Piece season 2.

Netflix has announced that AI-generated mid-roll ads are coming in 2026YouTube this week also revealed its new Gemini-powered ad tech Both have also tested 'pause ads' that appear when you pause a video

It already felt like the golden age of streaming was well behind us, but Netflix and YouTube have just confirmed it with new kinds of AI-powered ads that will seriously test your patience in the near future.Netflix was the first to talk glowingly about its ad tech this week – during its Upfront showcase, the streaming giant said it will be launching AI-generated, interactive mid-roll ads, alongside pause ads, in 2026.What does 'AI-generated' mean? Unfortunately, it's as bad as you feared. Netflix explained during Upfront that these new types of ads will use "generative AI to instantly marry advertisers’ ads with the worlds of our shows".In other words, mid-roll ads will soon harmoniously blend in with the show you're watching, bathing your eyeballs with subtle messaging.

Wait, these don't sound like fun follow-ups to The Four Seasons (Image credit: Netflix)

Netflix is supremely confident that its ad-supported tier subscribers will stomach these new commercials because, according to Amy Reinhard (its President of advertising), "members pay as much attention to mid-roll ads as they do to the shows and movies themselves". Perhaps subscribers hurling remotes at their TV also counts toward 'engagement'.Unfortunately, turning up the ad dial makes sense for Netflix's bottom line – its ad-supported tier recently hit 94 million monthly users, which is more than twice the number from the same time last year. And Netflix is far from the only streaming service dabbling with the dark arts of new, AI-powered ad techniques.

The decisive moment

(Image credit: YouTube / Google)

During its Brandcast event this week (via 9to5Google), YouTube also revealed an ad technique with a different twist – one that uses Gemini to work out how to place ads in the most important parts of the video you're watching.YouTube calls this 'Peak Points', because it uses AI to work out the most meaningful, or "peak", moments to yank you away from an important moment and dunk your head into an ad message.In the example that YouTube shared, the ad was actually served just after the 'targeted moment' (a marriage proposal) rather than during it, but it still looks like a pretty cynical way to hit you with advertising right when your emotional guard is down.YouTube didn't say exactly when this new 'feature' will be rolling out. But it seems likely to arrive before Netflix's interactive mid-rolls and pause ads. Talking of pause ads, that's another trick that YouTube has already tested in its bid to break your resolve and push you to YouTube Premium (or, in many cases, uBlock Origin).

Analysis: The streaming giants remove their masks

(Image credit: Netflix)

There was an age when Netflix was the scrappy, ad-free upstart that we all flocked to from cable and its endless commercials, but those days are long gone.In fact, if you're already tiring of insidious ad creep, there were some chilling remarks from Amy Reinhard (Netflix's President of advertising) at Upfront. "If you take away anything from today, I hope it’s this: the foundation of our ads business is in place," she said during Upfront. "And going forward, the pace of progress is going to be even faster".Pass me some smart glasses with AI-powered ad blockers, then, because this doesn't sound like a fun ride. I have no issue with ads at all – it'd be hypocritical to say otherwise, writing for a website that's partly supported by them – but making them a central part of a paid service seems a bit greedy, and I worry about the melding of AI-powered ads with entertainment.As TechRadar contributor Carrie Marshall also recently argued, Prime Video's 'Shop the Show' feature – which lets you instantly buy products featured in its shows – represents a troubling trend that's only going to get worse as we head into 2026. Prime Video is, like Netflix, very much an ad company in disguise.With AI unlocking new opportunities, the temptation to saturate shows with marketing opportunities is going to be stronger than ever, and we may increasingly feel like Truman Burbank in The Truman Show, wondering why we have the sudden urge to go and buy a Chef's Pal. I just hope escaping these next-gen ads doesn't exclusively become the preserve of the wealthy who can afford to shell out for 14 different ad-free monthly subscriptions.

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Indie games! They're rad, aren't they? We're keeping closer tabs on what's going on in that scene with our new weekly roundup. We've got a jam-packed edition for you this time with a little something for everyone, from lo-fi horror and Eldritch terror to cosy train dioramas and a vaporwave driving game.

Before we get started, a quick word on a recent game I enjoyed. Idle games aren't usually my kind of thing — I'd rather be actively doing things — but one I spotted on Itch.io offered some temporary respite from a virus I was dealing with. The DvD idle game from Cybo3D is all about watching a version of the classic DVD logo bouncing around your screen, buying upgrades and seeing numbers go up. Pleasantly relaxing stuff. I swear I even saw the logo go exactly into the corner a few times.

New releases

The Sinking City has a history that's even odder than some of the Eldritch horrors that lie within. Now, developer Frogwares has remastered its self-published detective thriller in Unreal Engine 5 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Existing owners get a free upgrade to The Sinking City Remastered, which Frogwares shadow dropped this week. Along with 4K textures, lighting upgrades and support for upscaling tech, there are quality-of-life enhancements, accessibility improvements and a photo mode.

Free-to-play fantasy adventure life sim Palia (which is what you might get if you smushed together Animal Crossing and World of Warcraft) landed on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S this week. It's been out on PC and Switch since 2023. There's a new free expansion for all platforms too.

If you've ever looked at a Grand Theft Auto game and been mildly interested before deciding a life of virtual crime is not for you, then The Precinct might be up your alley. In this action sandbox title from developer Fallen Tree Games and publisher Kwalee, you'll play as a rookie officer who tries to restore order in his city while trying to solve his father’s murder. How very '80s!

Reviews have been mixed, but the art style is compelling and the isometric perspective with twin-stick controls make for an intriguing wrinkle. The Precinct is out now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Upcoming

Copycat, the debut game from the small team at Spoonful of Wonder, is another strong entry in the cat game canon. You play as a kitty who an elderly lady adopts from a shelter. Needless to say, things don't entirely go smoothly.

I enjoyed Copycat — which debuted on PC last year — and its short but affecting story. The game has already sold over 50,000 copies and it's now set to find a new audience. Copycat is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 29 for $15.

Folks who like last year's very good and creepy walking sim Pools but yearn for more intensity from their liminal space horror might be interested in Backrooms Level X. This one is a mazy first-person survival game that has puzzles, "oppressive soundscapes" and things watching from the shadows. Backrooms Level X, from publisher Firenut Games and solo developer José Manuel Conesa Hernández, will hit Steam on May 29 and consoles at a later date.

Okay, maybe horror's not your thing. Totally understandable. Perhaps what you'd rather do is chill out and build little railway dioramas without being beholden to timers or rules.

You can do just that in Islands & Trains, from developers Akos Makovics and Fabi Smith and publisher Future Friends Games. It's rolling onto Steam on May 29.

It's probably a little (okay, a lot) because of the laidback synthwave tune that soundtracks the trailer, but I'm into the whole aesthetic of Adrift. This is a "chill, offroad driving game" and it's the first title from both car mechanic turned game developer Stefan Kwak and co-publisher Secret Sauce.

Your goal is to transport a fragile energy core across an '80s-inspired, vaporwave landscape. Adrift is coming to Steam later this year and you can check out a demo now.

How about another Steam demo? One just dropped for Flick Shot Rogues from three-person studio Butter by the Fish and publisher Noodlecake. Turn-based tactics games usually aren't my cup of tea, but the gameplay here reminds me a bit of Subpar Pool, a game I love very much.

In this roguelike, you flick your character across the screen to damage opponents (or evade their attacks) and try to pull off combo moves. Getting the angles just right is as important as piecing together effective builds.

I fired up the demo and suddenly 50 minutes had vanished as my first run ended. Yep, I'm liking what Flick Shot Rogues is putting down. I can see myself sinking dozens of hours into this one after it lands on Steam later this year.

An open beta for Splitgate 2, the followup to the Portal-with-guns multiplayer arena shooter, starts on May 22. You'll be able to hop in on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

A new trailer shows off the map creator tool, The Lab. You can build maps with up to 15 of your friends in real-time collaboration.

I'm sure plenty of folks who are into miniature wargaming and other types of tabletop games have wondered what it might be like to run their own store that sells such wares. And hey, guess what? You'll be able to get a taste of that in Tabletop Game Shop Sim from Knight Fever Games.

You'll do everything from deciding on the layout and managing finances to hosting game nights and playing with customers. This one's coming to Steam in 2025.

Let's close things out on another cozy note. We love a chill puzzle game around here and Umami might just fit the bill. The idea here is to fit wooden blocks together to create dioramas of food towers. This 3D puzzler from Mimmox will hit Steam later this year. A demo will be available during the Steam Next Fest in mid-June.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/remastered-eldritch-terror-a-fantasy-life-sim-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110015794.html?src=rss

The iPhone 17 Air is tipped to be just 5.5 mm thickA weight of 143 grams has also been rumoredThe battery capacity is predicted to be 2,800 mAh

It's the year of the ultra-thin phone, and after the grand unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge earlier this week, we now have some rumored specs for the iPhone 17 Air that Apple is expected to be unveiling in September.According to well-known tipster Yeux1122 (via @Jukanlosreve), the iPhone 17 Air is going to be a mere 5.5 mm front to back – that beats the 5.8 mm thickness of the Galaxy S25 Edge by a narrow margin.The other details revealed here are that it's going to come with a 2,800 mAh battery (compared to 3,900 mAh for the Galaxy S25 Edge) and weighs around 145 grams (compared to 163 grams for the Samsung model).Considering the iPhone 16 comes with a 3,561 mAh battery packed inside, that raises some questions about just how long the iPhone 17 Air is going to last between charges – and whether you'll be able to make it through the day without plugging it in.

Battery capacities and cases

iPhone 17 Air rumor:5.5mm thickness145g weight2800mAh battery???However, there's a possibility that a high-density battery will be used despite the 2800mAh capacity. pic.twitter.com/G8r9QayG7oMay 17, 2025

Let's hope Apple's engineers are able to find a way to get as much juice as possible from this smaller battery and super-thin frame. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who is usually reliable when it comes to Apple rumors, says the iPhone 17 Air battery life is going to be on a par with current iPhones.We've also heard that Apple is going to introduce new high-density battery technology with this model, meaning more battery life from less capacity. Apparently the same tech is set for the upcoming foldable iPhone as well.Also of note: one source says Apple is going to bring back its official iPhone battery case this year, in order to make up for battery shortcomings with the iPhone 17 Air. You might want to factor that into your budget if you're thinking of picking one up.While nothing is confirmed yet, the iPhone 17 Air is widely expected to be replacing the iPhone 16 Plus in the current lineup. There has also been a lot of talk about a significant redesign for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models, so there's a lot to look forward to in September.

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Epic has filed a "second motion to enforce injunction," asking the US District Court for the Northern District of California to force Apple to do a timely review of its Fortnite app and to approve its submission if it's compliant. The company recently accused Apple of blocking Fortnite's return to the App Store in both the US and the EU. Epic submitted the app for approval after winning its case against the iPhone-maker. Specifically, after the court ordered Apple to stop collecting commissions on purchases that weren't paid through the App Store and to allow external payment links in-app.

After Epic said that Apple was blocking Fortnite's return to the App Store, the tech giant wrote a letter addressed to the video game developer. In it, Apple said it will not take action on Epic's submission "until after the Ninth Circuit rules on [its] pending request for a partial stay of the new injunction." It told Epic to resubmit the app to the EU storefront separately from its US submission. Apple, of course, filed an appeal against the court's order to stop charging commissions for payments made outside the App Store. It also filed an emergency motion to put a pause on the order prohibiting it from charging commissions, telling the court that it will cost the company "substantial sums annually."

In a post on X, Epic said that Apple's suggestion to submit two different versions of Fortnite for review is in violation of its own guideline that prohibits developers from submitting multiple versions of the same app. "That’s not the standard Apple holds other developers to and it’s blocking us from releasing our update in the EU and US," it wrote. Epic also asserted that its submission didn't break any rules this time. Apple's denial, the video game developer claimed in its filing, is a "blatant retaliation against Epic for challenging Apple’s anticompetitive behavior and exposing its lies to the Court, culminating in the Injunction and the Contempt Order."

Yesterday afternoon, Apple broke its week-long silence on the status of our app review with a letter saying they will not act on the Fortnite app submission until the Ninth Circuit Court rules on the partial stay. We believe this violates the Court’s Injunction and we have filed…— Epic Games Newsroom (@EpicNewsroom) May 17, 2025

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/epic-wants-the-court-to-compel-apple-to-approve-fortnites-return-to-the-us-app-store-123054703.html?src=rss

Ironheart: key information- Will make its Disney+ debut in late June with a three-episode premiere- First trailer unveiled in mid-May- Dominique Thorne returns as Riri Williams/Ironheart- Numerous supporting cast members confirmed- Story synopsis revealed- No word on whether a second season will be made

Ironheart is finally ready to see the light of day. Over four years after it was first announced by Marvel President Kevin Feige, the Dominique Thorne-fronted TV series will land on Disney+ on June 24.With the live-action show's first trailer being released on May 14 and its actual release being only a month away, there's no better time than now to learn more about Ironheart. With that in mind, I've compiled this handy guide to bring you more information (and the odd rumor) on the small screen project.Below, you'll learn more about its confirmed cast, story specifics, and wider ties to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), among other notable tidbits. Spoilers follow for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the Marvel film in which the titular character made her debut.

Ironheart release date

Marvel Television's all-new series #Ironheart launches with a 3-episode premiere June 24 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/ZGRhMf33fFMay 14, 2025

As I mentioned, Ironheart will take flight on Tuesday, June 24 in the US, and Wednesday, June 25 in the UK and Australia (NB: it'll launch in other world regions on these dates). It'll launch with a three-episode premiere, too.Ironheart's release has been a long time coming. Initially conceived as a movie, the Marvel Phase 5 project was reworked into a TV show in December 2020 – a developmental shift that came almost two years after its original announcement.Despite making her debut in Wakanda Forever in late 2022, Ironheart's standalone MCU adventure has been trapped in development hell ever since. There's little to no public information on why it's taken so long for this project to get off the ground. But, with Disney confirming Ironheart would be among its 2025 TV line-up last October, the countdown is on to its long-awaited debut.

Ironheart trailer

Ironheart's official trailer made its worldwide debut on May 14. And, while it looks and sounds like a fun ride, Ironheart's rumored episodic release format has got me worried about how good it'll actually be.Fans had expected it to be released a day earlier during Disney's Upfront 2025 presentation. Instead, Marvel opted to build excitement for the trailer's arrival by releasing a behind-the-scenes (BTS) featurette containing lots of new footage for viewers to pore over.

Before the trailer's long-overdue unveiling and the BTS featurette's release, Marvel revealed Ironheart's first official footage as part of a Disney+ sizzle reel teaser celebrating its 85th birthday last August. The brief clips showed Williams flying through the streets of Chicago in her new super-suit, but that's all we were treated to until this wave of new footage hit the internet one month before the show's debut.

Ironheart confirmed cast

Who's joining Dominique Thorne (pictured) in Ironheart? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Possible spoilers follow for Ironheart.

Here are the actors you'll see, plus the characters they'll play, in Ironheart:

Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/IronheartAnthony Ramos as Parker Robbins/The HoodLyric Ross as Natalie WashingtonAlden Ehrenreich as Joe McGillicuddyRegan Aliyah as Ronnie WilliamsManny Montana as Cousin JohnMatthew Elam as Vaxier WashingtonJon Rash as the Dean of MITAnji White as TBC

Thorne, who portrayed Williams in Wakanda Forever, returns to play the same character in her standalone program. For those who need a refresher: Williams is an MIT student with a genius intellect who builds a super-suit not unlike the one Tony Stark invented.In Wakanda Forever, Williams' first attempt to build said suit is still in early development. And, while she's gifted a souped-up version of her design by Shuri in that film's final act, Williams is told to leave it in Wakanda at Shuri's request. In short, she'll need to continue working on her own suit in her self-titled show.Meanwhile, Ramos (In the Heights, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) will portray Ironheart's Big Bad in The Hood. In Marvel literature, he's a Chicago-based individual who wears a mystical hood that grants him the ability to use dark magic. In the MCU, he's initially billed as an ally of Thorne's Williams, with Robbins' street gang-turned-activists – the Young Lords – offering to help Williams create her suit of armor. Based on the trailer, though, the pair will be at odds with each other soon enough.

Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, is expected to be the series' main antagonist (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

That leading duo is joined by other familiar faces and newcomers.Ross (This is Us) is attached to play Natalie Washington, Riri's MIT roommate, while Star Wars alumnus Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) is set to play Joe McGilllicuddy, who's reportedly another of Riri's friends and, according to some rumors circulating online, the son of Iron Man villain Obadiah Stane.Rounding out the confirmed cast are White (Fargo, Chicago PD) is as Riri's mom, Montana (Good Girls) as Cousin John, Elam (The Many Saints of Newark) as Xavier Washington, Rash (Harley Quinn, Captain America: Civil War) as the Dean of MIT, and Aliyah (XO, Kitty) in an undisclosed role.Additionally, Sacha Baron Cohen has reportedly been cast as the Marvel demon lord called Mephisto. Given The Hood will dabble in the dark side of the Mystic Arts, this isn't as big a stretch as it sounds.If true, it'll mean Ironheart will include a previously rumored WandaVision villain. Indeed, MCU fans were convinced that Mephisto was the primary villain of that Elizabeth Olsen-starring TV show for much of its run. Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness was eventually revealed to be WandaVision's antagonist.

Ironheart plot synopsis and rumors

Will Ironheart prove to be a truck-flipping good time? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Potential spoilers follow for Ironheart.

Here's Ironheart's official plot brief: "Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Television’s Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri Williams – a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world – returns to her hometown of Chicago."Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins, aka The Hood."This kind of synopsis is par for the course for Marvel projects, but Ironheart's cast and crew have given us some other hints about the character's standalone MCU story.

Williams will be hard at work trying to build her own technologically advanced armor at MIT (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

One of the most pertinent things to bear in mind is that Ironheart isn't replacing Tony Stark as the MCU's new Iron Man-esque hero. Long-time Marvel fans will know that the pair had a mentor-mentee relationship in the comics, which is something executive producer Ryan Coogler touches on in the BTS featurette that you can watch in this article's trailer section.However, discussing the series in the same video, Marvel's Head of Television Brad Winderbaum said of the MCU's take on Williams/Ironheart: "The story of Ironheart is not one about the mantle of Iron Man getting passed. If anything, it's the opposite.""It's about her proving herself and shaping her own legacy," Zoie Nagelhout, another of the show's executive producers, added. In short, this is a tale about Williams and finding her own path without outside intervention.

Williams has been inspired by Tony Stark to invent her own super-powered suit (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Well, from Stark (or, rather, his posthumous hologram because, well, he died in Avengers: Endgame) anyway.At first, The Hood and his gang of misfits seemingly want to help Williams achieve her ambitions of creating a suit that can rival Iron Man's. However, while the trailer and BTS featurette confirm Williams will succeed in this endeavor, it's unclear how much of a role The Hood and company will play in its development.What is clear is how much time has passed since Wakanda Forever's ending and the start of this program. Per Ironheart's BTS video, head writer Chinaka Hodge revealed it takes place "in the days after" Black Panther 2. So, while many other Marvel films and TV shows are set in the MCU's "present" (i.e. around 2026/2027), this series is apparently taking a step back into the MCU's past and is actually set in mid-2025.

Thorne's Williams made her MCU debut in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

But I digress. If you haven't picked up on it by now, Ironheart's story will be as much of a battle between two very different forms of creation: science (or, to be more specific, technology) and magic.That's a given when you consider Williams and The Hood occupy the roles of each field's creator-in-chief in this series. However, as Kevin Feige pointed out at D23 Expo 2022 (per The Direct), this is the first time that these opposing forces will clash in an MCU production."[The Hood], from the comics, he deals in the dark arts," Feige said. "He deals in magic. Riri is a technologist. We've had technological heroes and villains. We've had supernatural people dealing with magic. We've never had the two at the same time, so seeing Riri go up against [The Hood] in a way that is very unique is what I think I'm most excited for."Here's hoping there's more than an air of creativity when these characters collide physically, then, and we're not treated (if that's the right word to use) to more bland, VFX-infused battles where the hero's skillset mirrors that of the villain's.

What Marvel movies and shows do I need to watch before Ironheart?

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the only Marvel production you need to stream before Ironheart (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

There's only one Marvel production you need to watch on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, before Ironheart is released. If you've read through this guide so far, you'll know that Black Panther 2, i.e. one of the best Marvel movies of recent years, is all you need to stream to catch up on Williams' story.She's also appeared in season 3 of the animated MCU TV show What If...? but because it has no bearing on Ironheart's journey in the MCU, it isn't necessary to watch the episode she appears in.Not signed up to Disney+ yet, but want to know how much it costs? Read our Disney+ price guide.

How will Ironheart impact the MCU?

Will Dominique Thorne join Robert Downey Jr (pictured) on the cast list for Avengers: Doomsday? (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The short answer is: I don't know. Ironheart could've become a fundamental part of the MCU if her solo series had released sooner – in fact, given her comparisons to a certain Tony Stark and his superhero alter-ego in Iron Man, Thorne's Williams could've been his natural MCU successor.With Disney shaking things up at Marvel Studios since Ironheart was greenlit and the latter failing to capitalize on her potential popularity post-Wakanda Forever, though, the character's MCU fate is yet to be determined.If Ironheart is a hit, it's possible that she'll be a late addition to the cast of Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars. However, should the series struggle to leave an impression, Williams could find herself relegated to the side lines.Land somewhere in-between the two and, given her relative age, she may join the ranks of the MCU's long-rumored Young Avengers (or Champions, whatever they'll be called...) production. Until her show ends, then, we're none the wiser about what impact Ironheart will have on Marvel's cinematic juggernaut.

For more MCU-based coverage, read my guides on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Daredevil: Born Again season 2.