IRONHEART: First Look At RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE Alum Shea Couleé's "Secret" Character Revealed

IRONHEART: First Look At RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE Alum Shea Couleé's "Secret" Character Revealed

We got word that RuPaul's Drag Race star Shea Couleé had joined the cast of Ironheart back in 2022, and the first details on her character have now come to light...

By MarkCassidy - Jun 16, 2025 01:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Ironheart

Marvel's Ironheart is set to premiere later this month, but it can be easy to forget just how long this series has been in development. We first got word that RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Shea Couleé had nabbed a "secret" role in the show back in 2022, and are just now finding out some details about her character.

EW has shared a first look at Couleé's character, a "fierce hacker" who goes by the nickname "Slug."

"I help a group of urban Robin Hoods to take away from the privileged and help give back to the community," Shea tells the site. "I’m there to help out on all the missions that go down, trying to shift this power dynamic in this version of Chicago we see in the show."

Though this might well be a new character, there's a chance Couleé is playing a reimagined take on Ulysses Lugman, a Miami-based criminal who tangled with several street-level heroes such as Daredevil and The Punisher in the comics. He was also affiliated with The Hood, who will be played by Anthony Ramos in Ironheart.

"From my understanding, this version of Slug they’re presenting is someone who’s being referred to as a code name. I don’t want to give too much of their backstory away. They need an alternative code name to go by because there could or could not be some people looking for them," Couleé adds.

"They've kind of left drag. They are a drag queen, but it’s kind of a past life. You see them in drag, but it’s kind of in the context of flashbacks before where they are now, because they’re trying to be on the low-low!"

Couleé is best known for Emmy-winning stint on RuPaul’s Drag Race, winning All Stars 5, finishing as a finalist on the special all-winners edition of All Stars 7, and her original season, Drag Race 9. She has also launched a podcast series, Wanna Be on Top?, which explores the world of America’s Next Top Model and premiered at No. 1 on Apple Podcasts.

Scooper MTTSH recently revealed the logline for the premiere episode.

"After being expelled from MIT and stripped of her tech, teen genius Riri Williams returns to Chicago. A chance encounter leads her into the orbit of a dangerous crew, and when she uses a brain-mapping device to repair her broken suit, she accidentally brings back a hologram AI of her dead best friend."

Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams made her MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and this series takes places after the events of the sequel, as Riri returns to her hometown of Chicago and sets her mind to building a state-of-the-art iron suit so she can make her mark on the world. Her time in Wakanda has left her more eager than ever to pursue her dreams, and her quest entangles her in a dangerous world of science and magic.

“Riri is definitely in conversation with a street-level show like Daredevil,” Wakanda Forever director and Ironheart EP Ryan Coogler teased after the trailer debuted. “You’ve got characters trying — both heroes and villains — to make do with what they have. Then you combine that with cosmic Marvel, characters who would be at home in Doctor Strange or WandaVision. That [mix] of street-level Marvel and magical Marvel is a pretty crazy combination.”

"Set after the events of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Ironheart” pits technology against magic when Riri—determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. 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)."

The series also stars Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam and Anji White. Chinaka Hodge is head writer; episodes are directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes. Executive producers include Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Zoie Nagelhout, Chinaka Hodge, Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler. Music is by Dara Taylor.

Produced in association with Proximity Media, Ironheart launches on Disney+ June 24, 2025.

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bobevanz
bobevanz - 6/16/2025, 1:27 PM
I'm sure the comments will be civil lol
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 1:32 PM
@bobevanz - And here we go
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 1:32 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - sorry.

here we [frick]ing go
Spike101
Spike101 - 6/16/2025, 4:44 PM
@bobevanz - 🤣
StSteven
StSteven - 6/16/2025, 9:30 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - Whew! I was about to ask if you're feeling alright there buddy 😉.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 9:51 PM
@StSteven - My [frick]ing man. 👊🏿

It was a [frick]ing Judder 😂

Where the [frick] have you been anyway?
StSteven
StSteven - 6/16/2025, 10:51 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - I've been around. I just don't post that often due to time constraints and unless I have something funny and/or poignant to say (plus I can be rather verbose fro time to time in case you haven't noticed).

As far as the show goes, if you're referring to the whole drag queen thing, I don't really give a shit as long as it serves the story and the show's good. I mean, they can have a finale episode with a chorus line of 50 one-legged transvestites on pogo sticks singing "It's Raining Men" wearing necklaces made of truck nuts and as long as it's a real banger and makes sense in the story I say "Sure, why the f**k not?"

For F**k's sake 😉
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/17/2025, 5:51 AM
@StSteven -😂😂😂😂😂

Man, I’m not to confident about the [frick]ing show, I don’t know whether the whole [frick]ing Ironheart heat wore off but let’s [frick]ing see, like you said, if the [frick]ing story makes sense, we may [frick]ing have something.

Until [frick]ing next time 👊🏿
StSteven
StSteven - 6/17/2025, 5:00 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - Peace! 😊
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/16/2025, 1:29 PM
Just what we need
TheBlueMorpho
TheBlueMorpho - 6/16/2025, 1:30 PM

Not gonna even watch this show. Just here to post this.......

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Nomis929
Nomis929 - 6/16/2025, 1:42 PM
@TheBlueMorpho - With Respect to the Blue...Oh, wait, Too late...

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AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/16/2025, 1:31 PM
Plus I think her AI friend is going to be a cliche large nailed head bobbling tall to the hand type caricature.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/16/2025, 1:31 PM
Drag Race is one of the most entertaining shows ever and I won't hear a bad word about it.
jackbauer884
jackbauer884 - 6/16/2025, 1:51 PM
@MarkCassidy - Thank god, you haven't to decide it. If people say a bad word about it, than it's their right.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/16/2025, 1:53 PM
@jackbauer884 - 😂 thanks for clearing that up.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 6/16/2025, 2:01 PM
@jackbauer884 - Still can say bad thing about it but @MarkCassidy - may have selective hearing, lol

I do find the show entertaining also, maybe not the most but it is fun IMO but then drag is a HUGE part of British culture what with Panto Dames and the like so...
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 6/16/2025, 4:30 PM
@jackbauer884 - If people say a bad word about it, that means they actually watched it.

Oh, and by the way:

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This is third coming of a goddamn- you know what? Never-ending. You know what²- [frick] that!!!

Phastos

Luke Jacobson (Jacob son- REALLY????)

Eddie in (Agatha All Along)


Anyone seeing a connection here??? 🤨
OptimusInTime
OptimusInTime - 6/16/2025, 6:04 PM
@MarkCassidy - it's what Jack Bauer does...
But with better literacy usually 🤣🤣
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 1:34 PM
They [frick]ing cant help themselves.

We got to represent the [frick]ing different pronouns.

Thats all I have to [frick]ing say on that

For [frick]s Sake
abd00bie
abd00bie - 6/16/2025, 7:46 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - Why are you triggered though? When straight people want to use their pronouns idc, like how when straight people kiss in movies, idc. Like how when they decide to get married idc, do you know why? Because it in no way affects me or my quality of life.
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/16/2025, 8:14 PM
@abd00bie - Not [frick]ing triggered at all matey. Just stating and [frick]ing point out the [frick]ing obvious.
YouIknowiamsexy
YouIknowiamsexy - 6/17/2025, 8:20 AM
@abd00bie - Dude stop it. No one is triggered. If you can't see this is a forced check box into a black show then you are blind AF. The stereotypes in black shows are insane and it's crazier how they are forcing this lifestyle in every show trying to condition us. Even other ABC folks can admit that. If you can't................
abd00bie
abd00bie - 6/21/2025, 4:09 AM
@YouIknowiamsexy - You're clearly bothered by all this lol
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 6/16/2025, 1:36 PM
If the list of reasons as to why not to watch this show couldn't get any longer, they come up with more.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/16/2025, 1:52 PM
@Urubrodi - how an amazing actress Is a reason not to watch?
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 6/16/2025, 2:25 PM
@Malatrova15 - What amazing work has this actor done before?
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 6/16/2025, 2:44 PM
@Malatrova15 - Lol that’s funny.
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/16/2025, 2:49 PM
@Urubrodi - Iron Heart
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/16/2025, 2:50 PM
@fanboy03191 - funny how ? Please explain how Is It funny? ...no no Gusto , Let him talk he Is a Big Boí ...how Is funny ? Huh?
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 6/16/2025, 2:50 PM
@Malatrova15 - lol
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/16/2025, 3:09 PM
@Urubrodi - dont laugh Again about LGTB issues in this site ..the demographic here Is changed, ITS been a while AND you aré sorrounded so be civil
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 6/16/2025, 3:14 PM
@Malatrova15 - ok now that is actually funny
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 6/16/2025, 3:33 PM
@Urubrodi - LMAO, best comment and couldnt agree more
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 6/17/2025, 1:52 PM
@Malatrova15 - Threats now?
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/17/2025, 2:21 PM
@fanboy03191 - this Is an LGTBQQQQ site now son ...you must be new
fanboy03191
fanboy03191 - 6/17/2025, 2:45 PM
@Malatrova15 - Sure it is.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 6/16/2025, 1:41 PM
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AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/16/2025, 1:44 PM
eye rolling rn.
Its nothing against the "queen" but for God's sake. This property was already going to struggle. Lets just try and make it fail by adding more stuff to make people NOT want to watch it.
Im pretty sure this was talked about in pre-production.
"hey what if someone actually likes the show?" "Its fine, we are putting a drag queen in it to keep the fanbase at bay"
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/16/2025, 1:53 PM
@AgentofSH1ELD - AND how having a Great lgtb talent ITS gonna add to the strugle ?
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