How Gwyneth Paltrow was recruited for 'The Avengers'

How Gwyneth Paltrow was recruited for ‘The Avengers’

By Matt Donnelly

April 17, 2012 12 AM PT

While trailers for ‘The Avengers” revealed that Gwyneth Paltrow would pop up in the approaching superhero fest, director Joss Whedon is now speaking out on how and why the A-lister joined the powerful assembly.

Robert Downey Jr., “Iron Man” himself, insisted that franchise love interest Paltrow (who plays Pepper Potts) was crucial to his character’s arc in “Avengers,” which costars Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth and many more.

“You need to separate the characters from their support systems in order to create the isolation you need for a team,” director Joss Whedon said during the film’s junket, explaining his intial decision against including any supporting folks from the various films that feed into “Avengers.”

“But Pepper, this was really Robert’s thing. He pushed hard ... ,” Whedon said. “He really thought Gwyneth would bring something great to the table, and we all thought so as well, but he was the one who convinced her to come and do it.”

Downey’s argument involved the personal evolution of Tony Stark, the quippy playboy who suits up as Iron Man, then enjoys fireside Champagne with his lady Potts.

“He didn’t want to be sort of, crazy alone guy, he wanted to be crazy in-a-relationship guy,” Whedon said.

Now Gwyneth fans know where to send the thank-you notes.”The Avengers” hits theaters May 4.

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Follow Matt Donnelly on Twitter @mattdonnelly.