Marvel's latest star 'deeply grateful' to be first trans actor in MCU

Australian actor Zoe Terakes has been brought on board Marvel's upcoming Ironheart show playing a currently undisclosed character.

Riri Williams will be played by Dominique Thorne, reprising her role from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Rounding out the remainder of the cast is Anthony Ramos as Parker Robbins (also known as The Hood), Lyric Ross as Williams' best friend, Jim Rash as the Dean of MIT, Alden Ehrenreich, Cree Summer, Manny Montana, Harper Anthony, Paul Calderón, Rashida "Sheedz" Olayiwola, Regan Aliyah, Shakira Barrera, Shea Couleé and Sonia Denis.

Terakes' casting is momentous in an already impressive list of actors as they are the first transgender actor to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They are trans-masculine and non-binary, and their most famous role is that of transgender man Reb Keane in the drama series Wentworth. Previously, they said this was something that they had "fought" for as they argue it is extremely important for transgender actors to play transgender characters.

Check out the latest Marvel's Spider-Man 2 trailer here!

Terakes, in an interview with Collider during Sundance Film Festival, expressed how significant it is to see people like themselves in popular blockbuster movies like those of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"I think as trans people, growing up I didn’t get to see myself anywhere, so I didn’t really know that I existed. And especially not in a superhero show or movie," they said. "And so I think I just feel deeply grateful and moved that little trans kids and trans teens have something to look at and to know they exist and to know that they can have superpowers, and that that’s where we belong."

"We don’t just belong in trauma stories on the fringes dying in things, you know? We belong there with the big guys. So yeah, it meant a lot to me," they concluded. Ironheart hits Disney+ some time in late 2023.