When the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with “Iron Man” in 2008, star Robert Downey Jr. was 43 years old. At the time, Xochitl Gomez was two. “I literally didn’t live in a world without it,” the “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” star points out.
And she’s far from the only new face in today’s MCU who grew up as the franchise took over pop culture. In 2008, “Ms. Marvel” breakout Iman Vellani was six years old. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” actress Dominique Thorne was 10. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” star Kathryn Newton was 11.