5 Oddball Comic Book Movie Casting Choices That Worked Perfectly

3. Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts

In: Iron Man Oddball Because: Because when you think €œlove interest in a comic book movie€ Gwyneth Paltrow is just about the last name that would pop into your head. She€™s older than 90% of the female leads in super hero movies, for one thing. And for another, her oeuvre is packed solid with prestige-heavy costume dramas or indie cult hits, like The Royal Tenenbaums. Rough and tumble action flicks seemed to be out of her wheelhouse. Adding to that, Paltrow€™s brief forays into mainstream-friendly films tended to end with duds like Shallow Hal, so there was no real impetus for her to put her toes into those waters again. Why She Was Perfect: Because when you think €œlove interest in a comic book movie€ Gwyneth Paltrow is just about the last name that would pop into your head. Prior to Pepper Potts, the most prominent female characters in comic book movies were awestruck school girls that were thrown into harm€™s way and needed rescuing. Paltrow added an adult vibe to her relationship with Tony Stark, approaching every situation with a professionalism, whether she was balancing his check book or Temple of Doom-ing his chest cavity. Paltrow also turned out to be one of the few actors alive who can go toe-to-toe with Robert Downey Jr. without getting blown off the screen, and the give-and-take between the two has become one of the founding relationships of the Marvel Film Universe. It€™s her ability to cut him down and build him back up that creates a chemistry reminiscent of a happily married couple, a relationship type that is otherwise missing from the world of comic book movies. The writing for Pep has been one of the weaker aspects of the Iron Man movies, all too often reducing the character to a nag. Hopefully, as the franchise continues, other writers and directors can follow Joss Whedon€™s lead and let Ms. Potts be as funny, sexy and easy-going as she was hanging around Stark Tower in The Avengers. Even if they don€™t, Paltrow paved the way for all the female leads in the Marvel Film Universe, from Portman to ScarJo, a growing roster of strong, capable women played by talented actresses. Best Moment: The thousands of different meanings that she can pack into €œWill that be all, Mr. Stark?€