Marvel’s biggest surprise in 2024 was not just for fans, several actors under the umbrella of the studios have been astonished by Robert Downey Jr’s MCU return as Doctor Doom following the end of his MCU tenure as Iron Man. Now, one of his Iron Man co-stars reacted to the big change the actor is about to embark on after playing a fan-favorite hero for over a decade.
Robert Downey Jr’s Marvel Co-star Gwyneth Paltrow Reacted To His MCU Return
Robert Downey Jr will appear as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Image Credit: robertdowneyjr/IG & Marvel Comics
It is almost impossible to imagine any other actor playing Iron Man as Robert Downey Jr lived and breathed the character adding his own flavor. Of course, Iron Man has helped rebuild his career when he was down low but at the same time, he also helped forge the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his role. Regardless, the actor has been an integral part of the leading superhero brand.
Following his glorious sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, the actor has openly admitted his desire to get back to play Iron Man again. Although the idea of seeing him as Iron Man again is pretty far-fetched right now, we will definitely have RDJ wearing another metal mask, the mask of Doctor Doom.
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RDJ took everyone by surprise as he revealed his face behind the mask of Dr. Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, who is set to be MCU’s big baddie. While several other actors including Thunderbolts* stars were surprised by the big reveal, Downey’s on-screen partner in MCU, Pepper Potts played by Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow reacted to his big decision to return to the MCU after five years. Paltrow was certainly surprised as her long-time pal took over the role, she jumped right into the photograph of RDJ with Doom mask on his Instagram comment section to ask, “I don’t get it, are you a baddie now?”
Will Gwyneth Paltrow Return To MCU?
Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow. Image Credit. Marvel Studios
There is no storyline update for the two of the slated Avengers movies, we are unsure if the Russo Brothers who are set to helm the movies will have room for Pepper Potts. But previously, Paltrow shared that she is open to returning to the character again but has a condition.
Paltrow who has been happily retired from acting to be a full-time mom and for her wellness and lifestyle brand Goop, previously appeared for a chat on SiriusFM’s Quarantined with Bruce (via Independent) to reveal that acting is not very interesting for her anymore.
“I think that when you hit the bullseye when you’re 26 years old, and you’re a metrics-driven person who frankly doesn’t love acting that much as it turns out, I was kinda like, ‘Ok,’” Paltrow said. “It wasn’t like I think this isn’t worth doing, I sort of felt like, well, now who am I supposed to be? Like, what am I driving towards?” she added.
Her rant toward acting was not limited to a singular interview, “When I was acting I really burned myself out. When the flywheel kicked in, I was doing three to five movies a year,” she told Bazaar in 2020 adding “I really got to the point where even the little things, like sitting in the van going to set, getting your makeup touch-ups, and everything – I really don’t know that I can bear it.”
In another interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor further showed her growing frustration with acting, “It would be very hard for me to do any acting right at the moment, just because of my job.” However, she could make a U-turn for RDJ coming out of her retirement, “But I guess Robert Downey Jr could probably always get me back.”
Paltrow’s condition to return to the MCU is pretty clear. “I’m a bit old to be in a suit and all that at this point, I feel very lucky that I did it [Iron Man], because I actually got talked into it. I was friends with [Iron Man filmmaker] Jon Favreau. It was such a wonderful experience making the first Iron Man and then to watch how important it has become to fans,” she told Variety in 2019. In another appearance on People TV, the actor stated that “if it was a small part that I could do in like a day or two,” she would be open to returning to the MCU.
