Gwyneth Paltrow Rumored to Return as Pepper Potts/Rescue in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY
It looks like Marvel Studios is going to pull out all the stops in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie with how many characters from the MCU are reportedly going to show up in it.
Now, a new rumor claims that Gwyneth Paltrow might reprise her role as Pepper Potts, aka Rescue, in the highly anticipated film. This is the second time this rumor has popped up, but it’s from a different source this time.
Paltrow, who has appeared in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers, and Iron Man 3, took a backseat in later MCU projects, making brief appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Her last significant appearance came during the climactic battle in Endgame, where she suited up as Rescue to fight alongside her husband, Tony Stark, and the Avengers. That same battle also marked her emotional farewell to Tony after he sacrificed himself to save the world.
Since then, Pepper Potts has been noticeably absent, even as Stark Industries’ assets were entangled in Spider-Man’s misadventures in Far From Home and No Way Home.
With projects like Ironheart and Armor Wars on the horizon, it seemed logical that Pepper might resurface there. However, insider @MyTimeToShineH claims Paltrow is slated to return in Avengers: Doomsday.
If true, this would make for an interesting comeback for a character tied to the MCU’s origins. Yet, some fans are hoping this doesn’t mean another round of Stark-related Multiverse drama, especially with Doctor Doom reportedly playing a central role in the movie.
The thing is, Doctor Doom won’t be recognizable to anyone and apparently, none of the MCU characters who know Tony Stark, won’t recognize Doom as Stark. At least, that’s my understanding of what Marvel is doing with the character.
Paltrow has always been candid about how she feels about the MCU. While she appreciates her time in the franchise, she’s admitted to not really a big fan.
She previously said: "To be honest, I stopped watching them at some point. I’ve never seen Endgame. I can’t keep track of who’s what. But I probably should at some point."
Reflecting on the MCU’s early days, Paltrow talked about how much the franchise has evolved since she first suited up alongside Robert Downey Jr. in 2008’s Iron Man.
The actress said: "The first film we did was very different from the rest because the studio didn’t think it was going to be a big hit. They hired Jon Favreau to direct, who was great. And they hired Robert Downey Jr., who was unhireable at the time. His career was at a very low point."
She described the production as improvisational and low-pressure, almost like working on an indie film. "We would write scenes in the morning in Jon’s trailer. Then the movie was such a huge hit that we didn’t make them like that anymore."
With Avengers: Doomsday helmed by the Russo Brothers, fans seems to be optimistic about what’s in store for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Whether Paltrow’s Rescue will play a significant role or make a brief appearance remains to be seen, but her return would bring a nostalgic spark to the MCU’s newest chapter.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released in May 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive in May 2027.