Howard out, Cheadle in. Howard says what?!

Posted on October 21, 2008
Filed Under Actors

Last week The Hollywood Reporter wrote that Don Cheadle is stepping in to replace Terrence Howard in “Iron Man 2.” In the movie, Howard played Jim Rhodes, Tony Stark’s best friend and future armor-clad hero War Machine. One scene featured Howard looking at a silver suit of armor and saying “Next time,” a line that caused great delight for fans.

Marvel had no comment, but sources close to the deal said negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons.

Ok, so at this point we were all surprised, but silently accepting the “financial differences” story. But now, Dark Horizons reports that Terrence Howard was as surprised as everyone else.

Howard says “It was the surprise of a lifetime. There was no explanation. Just…up and vanished. I read something in the trades implicating that it was about money or something.”

He goes on further to hint that the decision had nothing to do with him – “Apparently the contracts that we write and sign aren’t worth the paper that they’re printed on, sometimes. Promises aren’t kept, and good faith negotiations aren’t always held up. Even friendships, people you support.”

This whole story reeks… Marvel, apparently, “wanted to work with Cheadle and decided to take the role in another direction and approached the actor…” Why cast Terrence in the first movie then? And why would Cheadle be a better choice? Strange. Very strange…

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