Avengers 4 May Be Bringing Back A Key Iron Man Character

Marvel fans are still in the dark about how next May's Avengers: Infinity War will end, but one thing is certain: however that story concludes, it's going to play into Avengers 4 the following year. Most of Infinity War's characters are already confirmed to return for Earth's Mightiest Heroes' fourth outing, but there will also be a scattering of faces who weren't involved with the fight against Thanos. Thanks to new photos, it appears that Gwyneth Paltrow may be one of these individuals, reprising Pepper Potts for her sixth Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance.

Gwyneth Paltrow was recently photographed rehearsing with Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo for a new movie in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Although The Daily Mail could not 100% confirm that Paltrow has signed on to Avengers 4 yet, given that the Marvel blockbuster has been filming since August 10, as well as Downey and Ruffalo being among its many leads, the signs appear to be pointing to Paltrow participating in that movie. With Avengers 4 both concluding the MCU's Phase Three and wrapping up this franchise in its current iteration, presumably Marvel is keen to have her back for at least one more outing to wrap up her story in case Paltrow doesn't want to return in Phase Four.

Pepper Potts has been part of the MCU since its inception in 2008 with Iron Man, and she returned for 2010's Iron Man 2, 2012's The Avengers and 2013's Iron Man 3. In recent years, though, Paltrow has been dedicating more time to her lifestyle brand Goop, so she hasn't been acting as often. Pepper was subsequently only mentioned in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War, with Tony Stark saying in the latter movie that she and him were on a break. However, Paltrow reprised Pepper for a surprise cameo towards the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming earlier this summer, which saw Tony finally planning to propose to her. One can imagine that Avengers 4 will be just as explosive and intense as Infinity War is being advertised, but perhaps this will also be where we see Tony and Pepper finally tie the knot after all their years together.

No specific details for Avengers 4 have been released to the public yet, including what its title will be after the Infinity War Part II subtitle was dropped. Avengers: Infinity War will see the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and other assorted superheroes joining forces to prevent Thanos and the Black Order from obtaining the six Infinity Stones. There's been no word on if Pepper Potts will appear in that movie, too, but don't be shocked if at the very least Tony mentions her in the midst of protecting the universe.

Avengers 4 will be released in theaters on May 3, 2019.