Gwyneth Paltrow can’t keep up with the MCU multiverses, and honestly, neither can we.
After “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr. was announced to be returning to the MCU, but this time as iconic comic book villain Dr. Doom, Paltrow commented on co-star Downey’s Instagram post.
“I don’t get it, are you a baddie now?” she asked.
Apparently so! Downey will star as the character in “Avengers: Doomsday,” which is slated for a May 2026 release. Sequel film “Avengers: Secret Wars” is also already planned for 2027. Downey’s original MCU character Tony Stark AKA Iron Man died in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.”
“New mask, same task,” Downey said while onstage at 2024 Comic Con to announce the surprise casting. “What can I say, I like playing complicated characters.”
Joe and Anthony Russo will also return to co-direct “Doomsday.” Victor Von Doom AKA Dr. Doom originated in the “Fantastic Four” comic books. The character was previously played by Julian McMahon and Toby Kebbell; there is no word yet if Downey’s Doom will cameo in the upcoming “The Fantastic Four” franchise reboot.
Academy Award winner Downey famously kicked off the MCU reign in 2008 with the first “Iron Man” movie. Paltrow co-starred as the assistant-turned-love interest Pepper Potts to Downey’s Iron Man. And while Paltrow infamously can’t keep track of which MCU films she’s been in — or with which co-stars — she has confirmed that she most likely won’t be back in the superhero franchise anytime soon.
“I mean, I’m a bit old to be in a suit and all that at this point,” Paltrow told Variety in 2023. “I feel very lucky that I did it because I actually got talked into it. I was friends with Jon Favreau. It was such a wonderful experience making the first ‘Iron Man’ and then to watch how important it has become to the fans.”
She later said during “The Goop Podcast” that while she thinks she is “done” with the MCU, “I didn’t die so they can always ask me [back].” In fact, Paltrow teased that Downey would be the only person who could convince her to get back into acting as a whole, “to some degree.”
Who knows if Paltrow will be part of the next MCU surprise casting announcement…
