It's been some time since audiences last saw James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) in the MCU. His most recent appearance was in the Secret Invasion series alongside Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). In the series, a takedown of the Skrull invasion force revealed the real Rhodey had been in captivity while an alien had been impersonating him.
Eventually, Fury and Gi'ah (Emilia Clarke) freed the captured hosts, taking Rhodey home. He didn't say much following the escape, but Rhodey continuing to suffer from paralysis makes it clear that he was taken at some point after Captain America: Civil War.
Now, the question is what Rhodey could be doing next. He was originally slated for several appearances, except plans changed with both Captain America: Brave New World and Armor Wars. The latter was ultimately transformed into the Disney+ Ironheart series, while Brave New World scrapped the entire funeral scene that Rhodey would've appeared in.
Bear in mind that Rhodey's future isn't entirely set in stone. The Marvel alum still has a chance to pop up in the Ironheart show.
Assuming the Armor Wars aspect of the narrative remains intact, a public figure will have to confront more established organizations, such as AIM, when Iron Man-style armors show up on the streets—this is where Rhodey comes in. Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) is merely the first to develop one of her own, but with the technology spreading so quickly throughout the universe, it's bound to happen in waves—similar to how it happened in the comics.
In the comics, Armor Wars saw figures like Ezekiel Stane and Crimson Dynamo rising to power. More individuals like them became equally empowered by the technology, thus explaining the dangers surrounding the comic event coming to life.
Considering that Williams will trigger a wave of armors hitting the streets, Rhodey has to respond. Bystanders are unlikely to overlook a young girl playing Iron Man, and curiosity never stays at curiosity. People always want the hottest new thing, especially in the MCU.
Moreover, Riri may not know how to defend herself against manipulative figures like Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)—neither character is confirmed for the series, though play crucial parts in the comics. Riri would benefit from the support of someone familiar with navigating the corrupt world of politics, and Rhodey, once again, fits in the picture.
There's a slim possibility that Marvel has done away with the entire Armor Wars plot to focus primarily on establishing Riri Williams, though odds are Ironheart expands into said story. After all, who wouldn't want to see him take on the mantle of Iron Man?
Ironheart debuts on Disney Plus on June 24, 2025. Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on May 1, 2026.