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Iron Fist Returns in Marvel’s Eyes of Wakanda: A Bold New Animated Series

Wakanda’s legacy expands with time-traveling warriors, martial arts showdowns, and a new face of Iron Fist.

by Umair Nakade
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Summary:

  • Eyes of Wakanda blends history, action, and lore with a surprising new take on Iron Fist.
  • The series travels through time as Wakandans retrieve stolen vibranium from powerful enemies across the globe.
  • With Ryan Coogler producing, the show promises rich storytelling and intense martial arts action sequences.
Iron Fist Makes a Bold Return into the Limelight of the Eyes of Wakanda

Marvel’s upcoming animated series Eyes of Wakanda is set to take fans on a journey through time with the untold stories of Wakanda’s past. Interestingly, the big surprise here is the unexpected return of an old Marvel hero: Iron Fist. 

Set to premiere on August 6, 2025, on Disney+, this four-part anthology series follows the Wakandan warriors across centuries as they travel the world retrieving stolen vibranium artifacts.

Wakandan Secrets Across Time

Under Todd Harris’s direction, Eyes of Wakanda will take viewers through the rich and layered history of the Black Panther universe. Spread across four standalone 30-minute episodes, the series follows elite Wakandan agents on missions to retrieve vibranium artifacts stolen from their homeland. The story will blend historical fiction with sci-fi elements, and showcase how Wakanda has remained hidden and sovereign for thousands of years.

A still of Eyes of Wakanda
Eyes of Wakanda | Credits: Marvel Studios

According to Variety, the first episode, Into the Lion’s Den, is set in 1260 B.C. It will introduce us to Noni, a disgraced former Dora Milaje who has now become a War Dog.

Voiced by Winnie Harlow, Noni is set to take down Lion, the rogue former royal guard, voiced by Cress Williams, who has stolen Wakandan tech to make his pirate kingdom. His crew, elite fighters from around the world, makes them a worthy threat and setting up the conflict.

A New Iron Fist Enters the MCU

During a special Eyes of Wakanda panel at the Annecy Animation Festival, series director Todd Harris confirmed a major reveal

There will be an Iron Fist in here, and not the Iron Fist you’d expect.

That single line sparked fan speculation, for good reason. This won’t be the same version fans remember from Netflix’s Iron Fist series starring Finn Jones. Harris made it clear it won’t be a short cameo. He said,

“An Iron Fist walked into a cave with a dragon, and he had no superpowers, and walked out with superpowers, and the dragon was dead.”

A still of Iron Fist
Iron Fist as seen in Marvel Comics | Credits: Marvel Comics

Harris’s clear enthusiasm for martial arts themes and the character suggest will play a major role. He may stand opposed to the Wakandans rather than alongside them.

Harris further teased a major reveal: “Then you go in there with Spartan space Marines that are Wakandans. It is going to be a meeting of very extreme viewpoints. And if you love Jackie Chan, you’ll love that episode.” It seems that the audience will be treated to intense action and philosophical tension.

Animation, Style, and Cultural Detail

Axis Animation is producing the series, with AKA Studio handling the hand-drawn segments. Eyes of Wakanda wants to embrace a bold and stylized visual approach while paying close attention to cultural depth and authenticity.

a still of Black Panther
Black Panther as seen in Marvel’s What If…? | Credits: Marvel Studios

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Artistic inspiration was taken from renowned painters like Dean Cornwell and Ernie Barnes. Other global influences that speak to the far-reaching historical and cultural impact of Wakanda, with these visual and thematic choices adding greater layers of richness to set the show apart from standard superhero animation.

Coogler’s Vision and Iron Fist’s Surprising Role

Ryan Coogler, the visionary behind the Black Panther films, returns as executive producer alongside Zinzi Coogler. Though he is not directing or writing, his creative influence ensures that the series stays faithful to the established Wakandan legacy. The Head of Streaming and Animation at Marvel Studios, Brad Winderbaum, has also confirmed that this series is the strongest animated tie-in to the MCU so far. This signifies how the story will resonate well beyond Wakanda.

Blending historical storytelling, martial arts action, and deep Marvel lore, Eyes of Wakanda aims to mark a defining moment for both Iron Fist and Wakanda itself. The series may not only reintroduce Iron Fist but reshape how fans view the hidden corners of the Marvel universe.

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