Despite seeing her name on that “Avengers” cast list over on IMDB at different times, Gwyneth Paltrow won’t be back to reprise Pepper Potts for the superhero tag-team blockbuster.

In an interview with Collider, the “Iron Man” actress said “No. No Pepper. I think it’s a for sure. I think they’re starting shooting soon and they probably would have asked me by now” in response to a question about her involvement in Joss Whedon’s 2012 blockbuster.

I don’t think it takes a genius to work out why Paltrow won’t be involved – too expensive. If Marvel couldn’t match Edward Norton’s fee, and consequently replaced him with a just-as-effective albeit more affordable actor (in Mark Ruffalo), they’re sure as shit not going to pay Paltrow the big biccies to play what would likely be a fleeting appearance, and one without any significance to the bigger story going on in “The Avengers”.

“The Avengers” is going to be expensive enough, what with Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L.Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Mark Ruffalo all worthy of a pretty-enough sum each, so I wouldn’t expect to see any other sizable stars playing the second fiddle parts. But fear not Pepper Potts fans, she’s undoubtedly going to be back for the sure ‘thang “Iron Man 3″.