Dominique Thorne

Last updated

Dominique Thorne
Born (1997-11-05) November 5, 1997 (age 26)
Education Cornell University (BS)
OccupationActress
Years active2018–present

Dominique Thorne (born November 5, 1997) is an American actress. She began her career with appearances in the films If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) and Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). In 2022, she began playing Riri Williams / Ironheart with the Marvel Cinematic Universe feature film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever . [1] [2] [3] She is set to reprise her role as Riri Williams / Ironheart in the upcoming Disney+ miniseries Ironheart . In 2024, she will star in the Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck film Freaky Tales.

Contents

Early life

Dominique Thorne was born November 8, 1997, [4] in New York to Trinidadian immigrants. She has two brothers. [5]

Thorne attended Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan (PPAS) where she studied dramatic theatre formally. During her senior year of high school, she won the 2015 Young Arts Award in Spoken Theater as well as the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, which is given annually by the White House. After applying to a number of universities for both academics and art programs, Thorne chose to attend Cornell University, where she was initiated into Mu Gamma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority in Spring 2018. The following year, she received her bachelors degree in Human Development with a minor in Inequality Studies. Prior to graduating in May 2019, she became a member of the Sphinx Head secret senior honors society. [5] [6] As of 2020, she and her family live in Atlanta. [5]

Career

In 2018 Thorne made her feature film debut as Shelia Hunt, the ill-tempered younger sister of main character Fonny Hunt, in the film If Beale Street Could Talk , which was based on James Baldwin's novel of the same name. [6] In 2021 she played Judy Harmon, a member of the Black Panthers, in the film Judas and the Black Messiah . [7] [8]

In 2016, she auditioned with Marvel Studios for the role of Shuri in the 2018 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther. Her audition involved screen tests with Chadwick Boseman. The role eventually went to Letitia Wright. [9] [10]

In 2020, she was cast as Riri Williams / Ironheart in the upcoming Disney+ television series Ironheart. [1] [2] Because of her earlier tests with Marvel Studios, she was cast in this role without any additional auditions. [11] [12] She made her debut as Riri in the 2022 feature film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. [3] Producer Nate Moore said that when Marvel Studios was casting Riri Williams, Dominique was their "first and only call." [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018 If Beale Street Could Talk Shelia Hunt
2021 Judas and the Black Messiah Judy Harmon
2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Riri Williams / Ironheart
2024 Freaky Tales Barbie

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
TBA Ironheart Riri Williams / IronheartPost-production; upcoming Disney+ miniseries

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotesVenue
2023 Jaja's African Hair Braiding MarieBroadway Debut Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Panther (character)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Black Panther is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist-coplotter Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 in the Silver Age of Comic Books. Black Panther's real name is T'Challa, and he is depicted as the king and protector of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Along with possessing enhanced abilities achieved through ancient Wakandan rituals of drinking the essence of the heart-shaped herb, T'Challa also relies on his proficiency in science, expertise in his nation's traditions, rigorous physical training, hand-to-hand combat skills, and access to wealth and advanced Wakandan technology to combat his enemies.

Wakanda, officially the Kingdom of Wakanda, is a fictional country appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the country first appeared in Fantastic Four #52. Wakanda is located in sub-Saharan Africa and has been depicted as being in East Africa. It is home to the superhero Black Panther.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chadwick Boseman</span> American actor (1976–2020)

Chadwick Aaron Boseman was an American actor. During his two-decade career, Boseman received several accolades, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award, along with an Academy Award nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuri (character)</span> Fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics

Black Panther (Shuri) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 4 #2. Shuri is the princess of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. She is the daughter of T'Chaka and younger sister of T'Challa, who is the king of Wakanda and the Black Panther, an earned title and rank given to the paramount chief of the nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Coogler</span> American filmmaker (born 1986)

Ryan Kyle Coogler is an American filmmaker. He is a recipient of four NAACP Image Awards and four Black Reel Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award.

<i>Black Panther</i> (film) 2018 Marvel Studios film

Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, and it stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. In Black Panther, T'Challa is crowned king of Wakanda following his father's death, but he is challenged by Killmonger (Jordan), who plans to abandon the country's isolationist policies and begin a global revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett K. Ross</span> Fictional character

Everett Kenneth Ross is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Primarily an ally of superhero Black Panther, the character exists within Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dora Milaje</span> Fictional team of female characters within the Marvel universe

The Dora Milaje are fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are a team of women who serve as special forces for the fictional African nation of Wakanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ironheart (character)</span> Comic book superhero

Ironheart is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Deodato, the character first appeared in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 2 #7.

Okoye is a fictional character and the General of the Dora Milaje in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira, first appeared in Black Panther #1 within the comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Letitia Wright</span> Guyanese-British actress (born 1993)

Letitia Michelle Wright is a Guyanese-British actress. She began her career with guest roles in the television series Top Boy, Coming Up, Chasing Shadows, Humans, Doctor Who, and Black Mirror. For the latter, she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She then had her breakthrough for her role in the 2015 film Urban Hymn, for which the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) named Wright among the 2015 group of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits.

<i>Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</i> 2022 Marvel Studios film

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a 2022 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Shuri / Black Panther. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to Black Panther (2018) and the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, the film stars Letitia Wright as Shuri / Black Panther, alongside Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Angela Bassett. In the film, the leaders of Wakanda fight to protect their nation in the wake of King T'Challa's death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)</span> Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

T'Challa is a fictional character portrayed by Chadwick Boseman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. He is initially depicted as the prince of the fictional African nation of Wakanda who holds the appointed title of Black Panther. He uses an advanced vibranium suit and is imbued with superhuman strength and agility granted to him by the heart-shaped herb, as a blessing bestowed upon him by Wakanda's patron deity Bast, from whom the visage of the Black Panther mantle assumed by the chosen royal members is representative and evocative of.

Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films and television series produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. Phase Four features all the Marvel Studios productions released from 2021 through 2022. It is the first phase in the franchise to include television series, alongside television specials marketed as "Marvel Studios Special Presentations", with Marvel Studios developing several event series for the streaming service Disney+ in addition to the feature films that it was already set to produce. Animation in the phase was produced by Marvel Studios Animation. Phase Four began with the series WandaVision, which premiered in January 2021, while the first theatrical film in this phase is Black Widow, which was released in July 2021 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The phase concluded with the television special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in November 2022. The release schedule of Phase Four was changed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin Feige produced every film and executive produced every series and special in this phase, alongside producers Jonathan Schwartz for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Nate Moore for Eternals and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Amy Pascal for Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Brad Winderbaum for Thor: Love and Thunder.

<i>Ironheart</i> (miniseries) Upcoming Marvel Studios television miniseries

Ironheart is an upcoming American television miniseries created by Chinaka Hodge for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is intended to be one of the television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. Hodge serves as head writer. The series is also produced by Proximity Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuri (Marvel Cinematic Universe)</span> Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Shuri is a fictional character portrayed primarily by Letitia Wright in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, also inspired by the James Bond character Q. She is the courageous and tech-savvy younger sister of T'Challa, and the daughter of T'Chaka and Ramonda, all preceding monarchs of Wakanda. Highly intelligent and a master engineer, she is Wakanda's lead scientist and the princess of the country. Following her father's death, Shuri assists her brother in reclaiming the Wakandan throne from their cousin N'Jadaka and then helps remove Bucky Barnes's programming. Later, she assists the Avengers by attempting to use her technology to safely remove the Mind Stone from Vision's head. However, she gets stopped by Corvus Glaive and shortly after, falls victim to the Blip. After getting restored to life, she joins the battle against an alternate Thanos. Following her brother and mother's death, she becomes the new Black Panther, defeating Namor in combat and forming an alliance with Talokan against the rest of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?</span> 2nd episode of the 1st season of What If...?

"What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?" is the second episode of the first season of the American animated television series What If...?, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name. It explores what would happen if the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Black Panther (2018) occurred differently, with Yondu Udonta and the Ravagers abducting a young T'Challa instead of Peter Quill. The episode was written by story editor Matthew Chauncey and directed by Bryan Andrews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Halley Finn</span> American casting director

Sarah Halley Finn is an American casting director and producer. With well over 100 feature films and multiple awards to her credit, she is best known for casting the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe – the most successful film franchise of all time. She also cast and co-produced Oscar winning Best Picture Everything Everywhere All at Once, the most awarded film in movie history. It won three out of four acting categories at the 95th Academy Awards: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress – a feat only achieved twice before, and not since 1976. Other works include Oscar-winning films Black Panther; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; and Crash; all of which earned Finn the Casting Society of America’s highest honor, the Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting. Those films also won the prestigious SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. In 2023 Finn was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Casting and won the Artios Zeitgeist award for her work on Everything Everywhere All At Once. In 2022, she received two Primetime Emmy nominations for her work casting WandaVision and The Mandalorian.

The soundtrack for the 2022 American superhero film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to Black Panther (2018) based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, is produced by Marvel Studios and consists of an original score composed and produced by Ludwig Göransson. He has worked as the composer for Ryan Coogler's previous films. Göransson, who confirmed his involvement in the film in September 2021, also produced and curated most of the original songs for the album.

References

  1. 1 2 Gelman, Vlada (December 10, 2020). "Secret Invasion, Marvel Series Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Coming to Disney+". TVLine . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Han, Angie (December 10, 2020). "Marvel announces four new Disney+ series including 'I Am Groot' and 'Secret Invasion'". Mashable . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Davis, Brandon (August 19, 2021). "Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams to Debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Exclusive)". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  4. "Dominique 🌞 on Instagram: "A Quarter Centurion. - No one. Nothing. But God. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You."". Instagram. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Fraser, Narissa (December 27, 2020). "Dominique Thorne: American actress with Trini roots stars as Marvel's Ironheart". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Archived from the original on 2020-12-27. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Scott, Kayla (2018). "A Star in Her Own Right". Cornell Research . Archived from the original on 2019-06-08. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  7. Moore, Evan F. (February 10, 2021). "'Judas and the Black Messiah' cast members say Fred Hampton was never taught in school". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  8. Paiella, Gabriella (February 12, 2021). "The Judas and the Black Messiah Costumes Were Inspired by Vintage GQ and Archival Footage". GQ . Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  9. Freitag, Lee (2023-02-08). "WATCH: Ironheart's Dominique Thorne Auditions for Shuri Opposite Chadwick Boseman". CBR. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  10. Hargrave, Sam (2023-02-08). "Watch: Unreleased Chadwick Boseman Screen Test With Ironheart Star". The Direct. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  11. Ukiomogbe, Juliana (2022-11-10). "Dominique Thorne Brings Ironheart to Wakanda". Elle. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  12. McNab, Kaitlyn (2023-03-15). ""Wakanda Forever" Star Dominique Thorne Is Ready to Break Some Rules". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  13. Marvel Studios: Assembled': The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Directed by Bradford Baruh. Marvel Studios, 2023.