Marvel’s *Ironheart* finished filming in November 2022 and debuted in June 2025, almost three years later. For star and acclaimed drag queen Shea Couleé, this postponement heightened the series’ significance.
Countless people know Couleé as the victor of *RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars* Season 5 and a finalist on *RuPaul’s Drag Race* Season 9 and *RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars* Season 7. In *Ironheart*, they move from the Main Stage to the MCU, playing Slug, a talented hacker in the criminal group that brilliant inventor Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) teams up with. The crew’s objective is to disrupt the activities of Chicago’s affluent and their damaging businesses. For Couleé, the narrative struck a personal and political chord.
“I’m someone from humble beginnings who observes the unjust allocation of wealth and resources to the same one percent,” Couleé shared with Mashable during a Zoom interview. “Considering our present political landscape, it’s clear how these individuals exploit the most vulnerable, and it was fantastic to portray a character who is challenging the status quo.”
They continued: “It was enjoyable because it addressed many frustrations I carry as someone existing at the intersections of multiple marginalized communities, and it was empowering to narrate a story where someone like me could attain reparations from those oppressing them.”
*Ironheart* tackles urgent contemporary issues.
Discussions regarding economic inequality aren’t the sole significant themes in *Ironheart*. Riri’s new AI N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Lyric Ross) mirrors her deceased best friend Natalie, prompting inquiries into AI consciousness and ethical considerations. This dialogue carries more relevance in 2025 than it did in 2022, with the surge in AI applications and usage in the interim rendering *Ironheart* surprisingly timely in a rapidly evolving technological environment. Even a quip about economic inflation holds more significance now than it would have three years earlier. It’s almost as if *Ironheart* foresaw the world it would enter upon release, a notion not lost on Couleé.
“I feel like it’s a reminder that everything unfolds in its own time,” Couleé reflected on the show’s postponed launch. “I have faith in divine timing, and when we finished, 2025 seemed a distant future. Observing how what we created resonates more today reinforces that it was destined to premiere now.”
Perhaps no aspect of *Ironheart* has shifted more in importance between 2022 and 2025 than Couleé’s casting.
In 2022, casting a drag artist in one of the globe’s largest franchises was already a statement of inclusivity and a broadened portrayal of drag and LGBTQ representation on screen. However, by 2025, amid the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on the LGBTQ community and Marvel owner Disney’s withdrawal of a transgender storyline from Pixar’s *Win or Lose*, witnessing a drag queen take the foreground in the MCU appears revolutionary.
Much of this is attributed to Couleé’s performance, a mix of sass, glamour, and rebelliousness that’s delightful to witness. Amid battles in armored suits and discussions about tech versus magic, *Ironheart* presents six episodes showcasing Couleé embracing their “Black, queer self” — commencing with the development of Slug’s aesthetic.
Shea Couleé directly contributed to Slug’s appearance in *Ironheart*.
Couleé had substantial influence over Slug’s look, beginning with their *Ironheart* audition wardrobe.
“In conceptualizing the character, I thought, ‘for this audition, I should create a look,'” Couleé recalled.
And create a look they certainly did, donning black leather tactical attire and a harness vest that doubled as a purse. This closely resembles what Slug wears during the crew’s heists. The long nails Couleé sported for the audition became a defining feature of Slug. If your character is a hacker, they’re guaranteed close-up shots of their fingers typing away. Why not infuse some style?
Couleé enlisted their regular nail artist, Zoe Kosmopoulos (@bbygirlnails), to design their *Ironheart* nails, featuring darker marbled designs as well as a set adorned with tiny chains. Couleé also applied their own makeup to connect with Slug, recognizing that the character would handle their own makeup in the show.
“The costume department welcomed my suggestions and ideas on how the character should appear, making it a fantastic collaborative effort,” Couleé remarked. “My educational background was in costume design, so it was exciting to act and perform on screen while influencing how the character looked.”
A standout aspect of Slug’s appearance is their vibrant green hair, reminiscent of Marvel Comics’ Darkveil, a mutant inspired in part by Couleé. *Ironheart* does not clarify whether Slug is Darkveil, leaving their future within the MCU uncertain. However, both characters are drag performers, with *Ironheart* briefly acknowledging Slug’s drag history in Madripoor.
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