The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always a fun place full of fan speculation, theories, and never-ending possibilities. But all of that is turned up to an 11 when an Avengers movie is on the horizon. There are other projects in which we've seen that happen for too (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Deadpool and Wolverine, WandaVision and Agatha All Along to name a few) but it's generally reserved for the Avengers. And I tell you, it's exhilarating being a part of the MCU fandom around these times.
With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars set to conclude the Multiverse Saga, the speculation is rife as to what could happen in both of them and who might be involved. We already know that Robert Downey Jr. will be involved as the villainous Doctor Doom, returning to the franchise for the first time in six years (his previous appearance was as the hero Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame), as well as a host of X-Men stars and MCU legends. There are also some other stars expected to appear who Marvel will undoubtedly be holding back as surprises.
However, one of the franchise's longest-standing stars has suggested that they will return after all, with fans now expecting a cameo in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Gwyneth Paltrow announces that she might be in another Marvel movie
It sounds like we haven't seen the last of Pepper Potts after all. MCU legend and Hollywood royalty Gwyneth Paltrow recently made an appearance at a Family Weekend at Brown University and spoke about her legendary career. During a question-and-answer session with the audience, she also hinted at an MCU return, saying: "I might be in another Marvel movie."
The revelation sparked cheers from the crowd and a well-deserved round of applause and it has also sent the internet into a meltdown as fans have begun speculating when and where that return could take place. There are, of course, three obvious choices: Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Paltrow is one of the MCU's original stars, appearing in the franchise's very first movie back in 2008. That movie was, of course, Iron Man, which set the film series on the course to superstardom that it achieved, and Paltrow's Pepper Potts was a large part of its early days. The star reprised her role (alongside Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark / Iron Man) in Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
She had previously confirmed that she wouldn't be involved in any future Marvel movies after the end of the Infinity Saga as Downey Jr. also departed the franchise after Tony Stark's death. Pepper and Tony had lived their live together happily with their daughter Morgan, so his death brought an end to the Starks' arc in the MCU. However, Pepper as the CEO of Stark Industries could have been involved if Marvel Studios found a way for her to be, but it sounds as if Paltrow was happy with where her story had ended.
A new chapter for Pepper Potts could have a major role in the MCU's upcoming movies
However, things have seemingly changed since the revelation that Downey Jr. would be returning to the franchise as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Even Paltrow was shocked by the revelation at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, taking to social media the day after the announcement to comment on his post saying: "I don't get it, are you a baddie now?"
As Victor von Doom's likeness to Tony Stark is seemingly going to be addressed in the upcoming Avengers movies, it would make sense if Pepper was one of the characters to appear in the movie. Nobody loved him more than she did - and quite frankly no one knew him better than her - so in order to really drive home how haunting the idea of the movie's villain having the MCU's greatest hero's face is, the studio could have Pepper react to the shocker.
If she doesn't appear in Avengers: Doomsday, its 2027 sequel could be the most likely place for a Pepper Potts return. Perhaps the way to defeat the greatest threat to the multiverse is to have a multiversal variant of his one true love talk him down. We don't yet know if this version of Tony / Victor has a Pepper in his universe, but if he doesn't, our Pepper could attempt to appeal to his better nature. It would certainly make for an emotional moment, especially as it would mean seeing Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow act opposite one another almost 20 years after they first shared the screen in Iron Man. That's some history right there!
Pepper could realistically have a role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day too. After all, she is still the CEO of Stark Industries and we know that Peter Parker loved Tony. Perhaps in the loneliness that he feels after the events of 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home (in which he had Doctor Strange wipe everyone's memories of Peter Parker's existance), the webslinger could look to revisit his memories with Iron Man by visiting Stark Industries. Or perhaps a conversation with the person who Tony loved the most could remind him how valued he really was to all who knew him.
Irrespective of how she returns, the idea of Pepper Potts appearing in another Marvel movie is extremely exciting. This potential change of heart from Paltrow about appearing in another MCU film likely has something to do with Downey Jr.'s return to the franchise, and the possibility of seeing those two share the screen together is every bit as exciting. Pepper Potts is an MCU legend and we couldn't imagine anyone else playing her other than Gwyneth Paltrow. If she truly has chosen to return to the franchise, we couldn't be happier about that.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in movie theaters on July 31, 2026, while Avengers: Doomsday releases on December 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars premieres on December 17, 2027.