Tuesday
14Oct2008
Don Cheadle Replaces Terrence Howard in 'Iron Man 2'
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 9:57AM
There has already been a little collateral damage for
Iron Man 2. After engaging in a really
unnecessary pissing match with
Jon Favreau over whether or not he'd return to
direct the sequel, Marvel has made a major change in the cast. 
The reason for the split? Money, "among other reasons."
Have no fear, though, because Marvel has apparently found a better actor for the role, anyway. How about Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle in the same movie? Could it get much better than that? The Oscar nominee is scheduled to replace Howard when the sequel begins filming next year, and though he's maybe not as physical a presence as Terrence Howard, neither is Downey, when you put it in those terms.
The odd thing in all of this is how much Howard was looking forward to an expanded role in the franchise; it's all he wanted to talk about lately, but apparently, the bloom is off that rose, and Marvel may have actually improved the series with this move.
Reader Comments (10)
Well, I adore Don Cheadle, so this is a plus for me. And really, the only actor in IRON MAN that is irreplaceable is Robert Downey Jr. I wonder what the "other reasons" were for Howard's departure.
You can't replace RDJ; he made the role. I liked Terrance Howard a lot as Rhodes. I am sorry he will not be in the sequel.
it's really sad cause in all of Terrances interviews, he reallly loved the role and was so excited for the second movie.
Cheadle's good, but i like terrance
Even though I am a fan, Terrance Howard played that role way too much like a flamer for my liking. Cheadle is great but I hate when they switch actors mid franchise.
Two words. Bad. Ass.
He makes everything he's in better. Great addition.
Okay that's more than two words.
Film students will look back at Iron Man for years scratching their heads. It is as if they expected it to fail and succeed all at the same time...
I mean, contractually, it seems as if the series was never meant to go on, and yet, hiring a pretty big star to play Jim Rhodes, a much smaller role than Terrance Howard is used to, seemed to imply spinoff. Or at least further development of the character that eventually becomes...
War Machine.
The Batman movies have proven that comic book movies are character driven rather than star-driven, and different actors can easily replace each other between movies (Keaton-Kilmer-Klooney, Katie Holmes-Maggie Gyllenhaal), but Iron Man is an uspstart and, in my opinion, needs a little continuity.
Can Howard be replaced. Sure. But should he? I don't think so. And that's not to slight Don Cheadle.
I agree with you, Will, about the contracts. It does seem strange that they've essentially had to wrangle everyone up again. I do think Cheadle's an improvement, true, but I can't see why they'd need to replace Howard. He's a very good choice for that role. If it's just money, then that makes me wonder how much coin we're talking about.
Ahhh I'm so torn! I love Terence Howard- one of my favorite actors, period. He was just too awesome in "Iron Man" and it's sad to hear that he's not going to be in the next one.
But...I adore Don Cheadle tool, and he could do well by the Jim Rhodes role. I'll just wait until this movie is actually close to coming out to pass judgment on the casting.
Sorry, that should say "too", not "tool" which Don Cheadle is far from.
Now if they can only sign up Tera Patrick as Wonder Woman we'd see a real breakthrough in Hollywood ! :)