Deadline reports that GLOW star Shakira Barrera has joined the cast of Marvel Studios and Disney+'s Ironheart.
The six-episode series is being overseen by Head Writer Chinaka Hodge, with Dominique Thorne reprising her Riri Williams role from this November's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. That movie's director, Ryan Coogler, will serve as an executive producer on the show alongside Hodge, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and the usual names from Marvel Studios.
Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes are directing Ironheart, and the rest of the impressive cast so far includes Manny Montana, Alden Ehrenreich, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Zoe Terakes, Harper Anthony, Regan Aliyah, Jaren Merrell.
It was recently confirmed that Ramos is playing The Hood, and we're hearing that Barrera has been cast as that character's girlfriend or fiancee. Nothing is official on that front, though, as Marvel Studios has declined to comment.
As for Barrera, she's currently a series regular in Freevee's Sprung. The actress also recently wrapped a role in All Rise, but is perhaps best known for Netflix's GLOW. Among her other TV credits are Animal Kingdom, Shameless, and Queen of the South. On the theatrical side, she's starred in The Collection and The Knocking.
The Hood was a petty thief, Parker Robbins, who broke into a warehouse and shot and killed a demon residing there. Stealing its cloak and boots, he gained extraordinary powers and ultimately assembled a massive criminal empire.
Magic would get the better of him once he started toying with forces beyond his control, but The Hood has even taken aim at the Infinity Stones, so Ironheart won't find it easy to stop him. Given their lack of comic book history, we're intrigued by his inclusion, and it will be interesting seeing what Barrera brings to the table in the series.
Ironheart is set to premiere on Disney+ in 2023.