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.
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 onAugust 6, 2025, on Disney+, this four-part anthology series follows the Wakandan warriors across centuries as they travel the world retrieving stolen vibranium artifacts.
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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 acrossfour 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.
According to Variety,the first episode,Into the Lion’s Den, is set in1260 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 directorTodd 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.”
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.
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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.
Umair Nakade
Umair has loved anime since it was still pretty niche, growing up watching classics like Pokémon, Dragon Ball, Zatch Bell, and Beyblade in the early 2010s. Death Note really got him hooked, and since then, he’s caught up with everything from the Big Three to the latest Shonen Jump hits, with Haikyuu!!! as his favorite. But he’s not just about anime, Umair’s a huge cinephile, especially superhero flicks from Marvel and DC, and never misses opening day at theaters. When he’s not watching or writing, you will find him playing Wuthering Waves, AAA titles, or listening to Harry Styles on repeat. At Techwiser, Umair is dedicated to covering anime and pop culture content.
