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Marvel enthusiasts are speculating about a potential cameo in the upcoming spin-off series, Ironheart, despite having mixed views on the show.

Although announced in 2020, the Black Panther spin-off was initially slated for a 2023 release on Disney+, but was delayed.

Marvel's head of television and marketing, Brad Winderbaum, previously explained the delay on the Phase Zero podcast, stating: "Frankly, in all honesty, there was a mandate to kind of create as much as we could for Disney Plus as quickly as we could."

He added: "And then, there was a shift, and all of a sudden, we have to start spreading our release dates out. So, that really accounts for a lot of the delays."

A new trailer has now been released by Marvel ahead of the show's premiere. Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart follows Riri Williams (played by Dominique Thorne) as she returns to her hometown of Chicago, determined to make her mark on the world, reports .

According to Disney, "Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka "The Hood" (Anthony Ramos)."

Disney+ is set to exclusively launch its hotly anticipated show later this month, with the fanbase split over its debut. Marvel's Instagram post announcing the arrival stirred the pot when they wrote: "Watch the brand new trailer for Marvel Television's #Ironheart. Don't miss the 3-episode premiere on June 24 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET, only on @DisneyPlus."

Speculation is rife among fans eagerly discussing the potential plot twists after watching the trailer. One fan said: "I sense Mephisto chat."

And another added: "I'm excited to see more IronHeart! Wonder what the magic thing is about."

Some even speculate that the whispers about Mephisto weren't just rumours, suggesting he could grace the series with his presence, although this has not been officially confirmed by sources.

Despite a wave of enthusiasm from some quarters, there are those calling for the series to be axed before it even hits screens. Critics express their disapproval starkly on social media, with one pleading, "Please, stop this."

While others make clear their intentions to avoid the series altogether, saying things like "won't be watching" and "No thanks."

Others, nonetheless, can barely contain their excitement for the upcoming episodes, with remarks such as "Omg I can't wait to miss this one," and "I can't wait to watch it."

"This looks really good. I'm excited for it", said one, whilst another can't wait to delve into the possibility of magical armour.

One fan defended the pre-release criticism, saying: "Don't understand the hate this is getting before it even launched. If its good then its good. Everyone hated on the new Captain America movie before it launched and even the new Thunderbolts* movie and they were both great MCU movies imo."

Dominique Thorne, the star of the upcoming series, shared: "What was interesting for me was how different Riri's story and entrance into the MCU was in comparison to other characters. After bringing Riri to life in the world of Wakanda, we had an amazing opportunity to follow that up with a deep dive into the character that allows for the exploration of her origin story.

"We're not necessarily going back in time; it's more of catching up and seeing the effects of how those first pivotal moments of her life have shaped her, and seeing the person that she's trying to become."

The show, a collaboration with Proximity Media, features a cast including Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam, and Anji White. Chinaka Hodge takes the lead as head writer, while Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes direct the episodes.

The executive production team boasts names like Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Zoie Nagelhout, Chinaka Hodge, Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler.

IronHeart will be available to stream on Disney+ on June 24.