Gwyneth Paltrow’s ongoing confusion regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe attracted renewed attention following a story shared by Robert Downey Jr. during a recent high-profile event. The incident highlights the recurring Tom Holland Marvel movies confusion, with Paltrow forgetting her own co-star from the blockbuster franchise.
Robert Downey Jr. Shares Amusing Marvel Mix-Up
At The Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 Women in Entertainment breakfast, Robert Downey Jr. celebrated Gwyneth Paltrow as recipient of the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, taking the opportunity to reminisce about her memorable lapses when it comes to Marvel knowledge. In front of the gathered audience, Downey Jr. said she is
“forever confused by the basic tenets of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its inhabitants.”
— Robert Downey Jr., Actor. He entertained guests with a story about Paltrow’s uncertainty, recalling when she earnestly asked who Tom Holland was, despite sharing the screen with him across multiple films.
Downey Jr. explained that when Paltrow asked, “Who’s that?”, he replied,
“That’s Spider-Man. He said his name was Peter. His character’s name is Peter. He’s Tom Holland,”
— Robert Downey Jr., Actor. He then clarified further for her,
“You’ve done four movies with him.”
— Robert Downey Jr., Actor.
Earlier Incidents of MCU Forgetfulness Involving Paltrow
This episode is not the only example of Gwyneth Paltrow misplacing Marvel details. Back in 2019, while filming Netflix’s The Chef Show, director Jon Favreau tried jogging her memory about a cameo she had in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Favreau prompted,
“Remember when we were in Spider-Man?”
Yet Paltrow insisted she was never in that film, maintaining her stance until several prompts finally triggered her recollection—at which point she exclaimed, “Oh yes!… That was Spider-Man?”
Paltrow’s Recent Comments Add Fuel to the Confusion
Most recently, Gwyneth Paltrow contributed to her reputation for Marvel memory lapses by posting on Robert Downey Jr.’s Instagram. Reacting to his announcement about returning to the MCU as Dr. Doom, she wrote,
“I don’t get it, are you a baddie now?”
— Gwyneth Paltrow, Actress. With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled for release in late 2026 and 2027, respectively, Paltrow, famous for her role as Pepper Potts in Iron Man, may need to brush up on the expanding Marvel universe and its characters such as Peter Parker and Dr. Doom.
These lighthearted anecdotes showcase repeated incidents where Paltrow has admitted uncertainty around her Marvel co-stars and their characters. With the Marvel franchise continuing to grow and multiple big releases planned, fans and audiences alike may wonder if more of these infamous moments are on the horizon.
