Wherefore art thou, Pepper Potts? Gwyneth Paltrow talks about her absence in post-Iron Man MCU.
The MCU has undergone quite a change ever since Tony Stark snapped his fingers and delivered the best one-liner in Endgame: “I am Iron Man”. But it also seems that Iron Man’s exit also meant Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts took a bow.
In a post on her personal Instagram account, a fan bluntly asked Paltrow why she’s been absent from the MCU since the end of the Infinity Saga. Paltrow’s response was both surprising and straightforward:
"“Oh my god, stop yelling at me! We just stopped doing it because Iron Man died, and why do you need Pepper Potts without Iron Man?”"
I mean… she definitely could continue her arc without Tony Stark around. While Pepper Potts was an integral part of Tony Stark’s life, she was more than just “Tony Stark’s wife”. I resonate so well with this sentiment right now.
As CEO of Stark Industries, she led a tech company and, shit, she even suited up in the Iron Man armor during the Battle of Earth. So to say that her character “doesn’t belong in the MCU without Iron Man” is not just a tad unfair to Pepper – it’s freaking criminal and dismissive of who she is individually.
With the MCU heading in a more cosmic and multiverse-focused direction, one might argue that a corporate CEO doesn’t really fit in the narrative. That said, Paltrow’s character has shown potential to slide in as an Iron Man-like superhero, and Marvel could easily write her into future storylines if they wanted to.
For now, it appears that Pepper Potts is hanging out in the suburbs, enjoying her quiet, superhero-free life. While Paltrow seems fine with not being a part of the MCU anymore, many fans are holding out hope for at least a cameo as the MCU expands and evolves.
Whether you miss her as Pepper Potts, Rescue, or simply as the intelligent and capable woman who was the beating heart behind Iron Man’s arc reactor, remember this: in comic book worlds, retirement is almost always temporary.