Gwyneth Paltrow Reacts to Robert Downey Jr.'s Return to Marvel

Gwyneth Paltrow humorously responded to the recent announcement of her "Iron Man" co-star Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) during the San Diego Comic-Con. Downey is set to portray Doctor Doom in the upcoming films "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars," scheduled for release in May 2026 and May 2027, respectively. Paltrow, who played Pepper Potts in the franchise, expressed her confusion in the comments section of Downey's Instagram post, questioning whether he was now a villain. Paltrow's comment, "I don't get it, are you a baddie now?" resonated with fans, garnering nearly 15,000 likes. Her confusion stems from the fact that Downey's character, Iron Man, made the ultimate sacrifice in "Avengers: Endgame" to defeat Thanos in 2019. This twist in Downey's character arc has sparked curiosity among fans and fellow Avengers. Other MCU stars joined in the excitement, with Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk, and Jeremy Renner, known for Hawkeye, sharing their enthusiasm in the comments. Ruffalo playfully remarked, "Hey, Brat: Green suits you," while Renner encouraged Downey with "Bring the DOOM!" Additionally, the Russo brothers, who directed the previous Avengers films, are also returning for the new projects, further heightening anticipation for the upcoming installments in the MCU. Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Disney, continues to expand its cinematic universe with these exciting developments.