The daily gossip: Joss Whedon says he won't make The Avengers 2 without Robert Downey Jr., and more

1. Joss Whedon says he won't make The Avengers 2 without Robert Downey Jr.

Mega-budget superhero sequel The Avengers 2 looms on the horizon, but franchise star Robert Downey Jr. — who has played Iron Man in four films — hasn't technically signed on to appear in the sequel, amid ominous reports of a contract dispute. But in a recent interview with The Daily Beast, director Joss Whedon did his best to reassure fans that the actor wouldn't be scrapped for a younger, cheaper model. "I have no intention of making Avengers 2 without him, nor do I think I'll be called upon to do that," said Whedon. He added that Downey Jr. "is Iron Man in the way that Sean Connery was James Bond" — implying, somewhat confusingly, that he could be replaced by no less than five other actors. [The Daily Beast]

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2. Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll are having a baby

Today in celebrity pregnancies: Newlyweds Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll. E! Online confirmed the rumors with Winslet's representative on Tuesday, who helpfully added that both Winslet and Rocknroll "are delighted." This will be Winslet's third child — but her first with a husband whose name sounds like a superhero I would have doodled in a notebook in second grade. [E! Online]

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3. Warner Bros. has more than 100 promotional partners for Man of Steel

Look! Up there on the billboard! It's a shameless, endless onslaught of products claiming a tenuous association with Superman! According to TIME, the list of more than 100 promotional tie-ins for the upcoming reboot Man of Steel includes Warby Parker eyeglasses, Nokia's new cell phone, and the Super Bacon Cheeseburger from Carl's Jr. — a helpful reminder that Superman's many powers also include super-metabolism. [TIME]

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4. Producer says Miley Cyrus isn't singing about doing ecstasy in "We Can't Stop"

Listeners who were able to tolerate Miley Cyrus' screechy new single "We Can't Stop" for more than 10 seconds might have noticed what seemed to be a very un-Hannah Montana reference to "dancing with molly" — a slang term for partying on ecstasy. But a representative for the song's producer told TMZ that the seemingly clear reference is "a mistake," and that the actual lyric is "dancing with Miley." As for the follow-up lyric, "trying to get a line in the bathroom," we'll just assume Cyrus is really into doing the Conga. [TMZ]

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5. Megan Fox and Will Arnett ate some food together

Megan Fox and Will Arnett, who are slated to appear together in the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot, had lunch together last weekend — and everybody decided to pretend like it was news, because they're celebrities or whatever. During a meal that an onlooker described to People as "a mix of business and pleasure," the duo ate tuna and lobster tacos, New York pretzels, bread pudding, and strawberry shortcake — but not, to the guaranteed disappointment of the Turtles themselves, any pizza. [People]