Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Apple WWDC 2025 Switch 2 Restock Best laptops Best Mattress Wordle Today Recommended reading Marvel drops first 'Ironheart' trailer — time for Riri Williams to suit up Entertainment Every upcoming Marvel movie and TV show coming to the MCU Entertainment Marvel reveals 'Avengers: Doomsday' casting — the latest updates and every actor 'Captain America: Brave New World' streaming date — here's when you can watch on Disney Plus 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' movie release date, cast, plot, and more New on Disney Plus in May 2025 — all the new must-watch movies and shows ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast isn't fully assembled yet — here’s who I think should join next Entertainment Marvel Animation debuts first episode of 'Eyes of Wakanda' — and it's got a surprising cameo Alyse Stanley 10 June 2025 'There will be an Iron Fist in here, and not the Iron Fist you'd expect,' says showrunner When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Disney) Marvel's "Eyes of Wakanda" animated spin-off from the "Black Panther" franchise arrives on Disney Plus in just a few short weeks, but audiences at the Annecy Animation Festival got a special sneak peek of the first episode on Monday. Director Todd Harris introduced the episode, titled “Into the Lion’s Den,” before a Q&A session on June 9. It's the first of four 30-minute-long episodes in the series, which spans Wakanda's 3,000-year-old history to spotlight some of the nation's bravest warriors. Harris, a long-time Marvel Studios storyboard artist who worked on "Black Panther" and its sequel, said the show follows an "anthology" adjacent format." "We have the spark or impetus for the show: someone takes something that doesn’t belong to them and like any person or institution, they make a concerted effort to get it back,” Harris told the audience via a Marvel press release. You may like Marvel drops first 'Ironheart' trailer — time for Riri Williams to suit up Every upcoming Marvel movie and TV show coming to the MCU Marvel reveals 'Avengers: Doomsday' casting — the latest updates and every actor “Wakanda is a 3,000-year-old society,” he continued. “They have a very succinct self-identity, and they are preserving that. We get the chance to see the persistence and character of Wakandans. The premise of the show is: What’s the kind of culture that builds the Black Panther? You see this even in their generals, their sergeants, everyday citizens.” The show's first episode opens in Crete in 1260 B.C. with a Wakandan general (voiced by Cress Williams) who abandons his post to run a band of pirates. When he steals the nation's top-secret technological treasures to forge his own kingdom, a disgraced former Dora Milaje named Noni (voiced by Winnie Harlow) sets out to bring him to justice. As she braves the seas and brawls her way through the tyrant's henchmen, she uncovers the Hatut Zaraze, a Wakandan secret service tasked with retrieving stolen Vibranium artifacts. "Eyes of Wakanda," which premieres on Disney Plus on August 6, unfolds over different eras as Hatut Zaraze agents track down stolen artifacts throughout history, offering an unprecedented look at Wakanda's history. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. “Everybody in Wakanda is like a physicist… you see their patience over centuries to see work, that they will never be able to see get finished but they believe in their mission as a culture, to see this work through," Harris said. "So we kind of hopscotch through time, as we see these people pursue the goals of their country, which is to preserve the secret of their technology and who they are.” Surprising cameos in store Notably, Harris revealed during the Q&A that Marvel characters we know and love will make appearances throughout the show, including Iron Fist, the subject of Netflix's spin-off series of the same name and a member of "The Defenders." The "Iron Fist" show failed to impress fans, with many criticizing how Danny Rand's iteration rarely used his titular powers. Controversy also surrounded the character embodying "white savior" tropes, fueled in part by a white actor being cast in the role of a martial arts superhero. Those problematic elements aside, "Eyes of Wakanda" marks a chance for Marvel to take the backlash to heart. And it seems like Harris has a distinctive vision for the character. "The only thing I can tell you, which is what I was told to be able to tell you, is there will be an Iron Fist in here, and not the Iron Fist you'd expect," Harris said. The character’s legacy spans over a century in the comics, making the anthology format an ideal way for the MCU to revive Iron Fist and broaden his on-screen story. More from Tom's Guide Marvel's 'Ironheart' just got a new trailer — and now I can't wait to stream the new Disney Plus show New on Disney Plus in June 2025 How to watch the Marvel movies in order Streaming service deals not to miss Disney+ Annual Premium Get first month fr... Hulu - Monthly (with Ads) Max Monthly With Ads Paramount Plus Essential - Monthly Peacock Premium We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices See more Entertainment News Alyse Stanley News Editor Alyse Stanley is a news editor at Tom’s Guide, overseeing weekend coverage and writing about the latest in tech, gaming, and entertainment. Before Tom’s Guide, Alyse worked as an editor for the Washington Post’s sunsetted video game section, Launcher. She previously led Gizmodo’s weekend news desk and has written game reviews and features for outlets like Polygon, Unwinnable, and Rock, Paper, Shotgun. She’s a big fan of horror movies, cartoons, and roller skating. 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