Marvel Studios has dropped a major surprise for fans ahead of the premiere of its upcoming animated anthology Eyes of Wakanda. During a panel at the Annecy Animation Festival, director Todd Harris confirmed that the series will introduce Iron Fist—but added an intriguing twist: “There will be an Iron Fist in here, and not the Iron Fist you expect.”
This announcement has ignited speculation across the fandom, as it strongly suggests the appearance of an entirely new version of the legendary martial arts hero. Rather than Danny Rand—the most recognized Iron Fist in Marvel Comics and the Netflix Defenders series—this version is expected to be a legacy Iron Fist from a different era, possibly centuries before modern times.
A Time-Spanning Journey Through Wakanda’s Hidden History
Eyes of Wakanda is a four-part animated anthology series set across multiple points in Wakanda’s vast past. Each episode follows members of the Hatut Zeraze—Wakanda’s elite spy force—as they recover powerful vibranium artifacts stolen throughout history. The storytelling spans thousands of years, offering a fresh, mythic take on the Marvel Universe far beyond the typical MCU timeline.
The premiere episode, titled “Into the Lion’s Den,” is set in 1260 B.C. and follows a former Dora Milaje warrior named Noni (voiced by model and actress Winnie Harlow) on a dangerous mission to retrieve stolen vibranium from a vicious pirate warlord known only as “The Lion.”
A New Iron Fist Emerges
With the series set long before the modern-day MCU, the Iron Fist appearing in Eyes of Wakanda is likely from an older generation of warriors from the mystical city of K’un-Lun. The identity of this Iron Fist is still under wraps, but early speculation suggests it could be a female Iron Fist or a lesser-known character from deep Marvel lore. This aligns with Marvel’s recent trend of exploring untapped parts of its mythos and expanding legacy titles beyond their traditional holders.
Todd Harris emphasized that Eyes of Wakanda will be closely tied to the broader MCU, calling it one of Marvel’s “most interconnected” animated shows yet. The series is being overseen by What If…? executive producer Matthew Chauncey, ensuring it ties into the wider multiverse narrative that Marvel is currently building.
Release Date and What to Expect
Eyes of Wakanda is officially set to premiere on August 6, 2025, exclusively on Disney+. With its blend of ancient lore, spy action, and surprise character appearances—including a mysterious Iron Fist—the series promises to be one of Marvel’s boldest and most unique projects to date.
As excitement builds, fans are already theorizing how this new Iron Fist could impact the future of the MCU and whether we’ll see more of them beyond this animated anthology.
Stay tuned for more breaking updates on Eyes of Wakanda, Marvel’s new Iron Fist, and the expanding world of Wakanda.
