Disney’s Iron Heart Introduces Queer Characters to Marvel
Disney’s upcoming superhero series, Iron Heart, is set to feature queer drag queen characters in the Marvel universe on its Disney+ platform aimed at kids.
This new series follows Ri Ri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne, as she creates a super suit reminiscent of Iron Man’s to battle evil. It will also highlight Marvel’s first drag queen character, portrayed by Shea Coulee, a contestant from RuPaul’s Drag Race, who embodies a computer hacker and drag queen known as “Slug.”
Shea, whose real name is Jaren Merrell, is a Chicago-based entertainer. In a previous interview, he expressed his excitement about the role, describing the character’s socialist inclinations—stealing from the privileged to give back to the community. “I’m here to support the Robinhood group in shifting the power dynamics in this particular Chicago we see in the show,” he said.
Merrell also shared that the character’s background includes their time as a drag queen, and they prefer the pronouns “them/they.” He noted that while the character has a drag identity, that aspect is more of a past experience.
Merrell praised the Marvel producers for their support in crafting a character that resonates with his personal identity. “It was refreshing to find a way to genuinely exist within a character that reflects who I am,” he noted, expressing how his acting skills intertwined with his enthusiasm for the character of Slug.
Iron Heart has had a rocky production journey since its initial announcement in 2018. The series, consisting of six episodes, is finally set to release this month after being canceled once for theatrical release. Footage was even shown at Disney’s D23 event in 2022, and it is anticipated to premiere later this year, possibly as part of a shift in Disney’s approach.
This project serves as the concluding installment of a fraught MCU Phase 5 schedule, with many regarding Iron Heart as one of the most progressive Marvel offerings to date.
Marvel has faced critique from some far-left circles and the LGBTQ+ community for previously minimizing gay characters. However, since 2019, Marvel Studios has committed to incorporating more queer superheroes into the MCU, which has culminated in appearances in several series like Loki and Agatha, as well as films such as Eternals, Deadpool, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther.
