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Iron Man(2008 ) usher in the Age of Marvel , and the movie business has n’t been the same since , but one mavin did n’t even return of the continuation : here ’s why Terrence Howard did n’t reprise his role as Rhodey inIron Man 2 . Director Jon Favreau ’s blockbusterIron Manorigin story was a near - perfect introduction to the now - established Marvel Cinematic Universe and not only cemented the comeback of asterisk Robert Downey Jr. , but launched him to superstar status . Downey ’s " champion , billionaire , playboy , philanthropist " Tony Stark would be join by other charismatic stars in the frame of Chris Hemsworth as Thor , Chris Evans as Steve Rogers , and Brie Larson as Carol Danvers ( and many , many more ) but Downey remains one of Marvel ’s most popular - and its highest paid - placard boy .
Downey ’s co - star Terrence Howard played Rhodey inIron Isle of Man – a.k.a . Colonel James Rhodes . Howard is a respected actor who had been nominated for an Oscar forHustle & Flow(2005)following his acclaimed go inCrash(2004 ) . Howard play Stark ’s best friend and ally Rhodey , a character who - in the comics - take over for Stark as Iron Man and finally became a superhero called War Machine . Don Cheadle replaced Terrence Howard inIron Man 2 , becoming first Iron Patriot and then War Machine , and many fans did n’t seem to mind .
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There were abbreviated rumble regarding the recasting of Rhodey on the passing ofIron Man 2 in 2010 , as is only natural , but many of the detail remained unknown . That ’s until Terrence Howard seem on time of year 10 of Bravo ’s late - dark chat showWatch What Happens Livein November 2013 . Howard answer a call - in question about the rewording of his role , and also reflect – not so positively – on the reason he abandoned the MCU .
Terrence Howard Revealed Why He Left Behind Iron Man’s Rhodey
On the segment , Howard is unsubtle about the rationality he left the MCU behind . Money played a major part – as it often does in blockbuster filmmaking – but the histrion also suggest at other tensions that contribute to him walking away . Speaking on why he did n’t return asRhodey inIron Man 2 , Terrence Howard said :
" It turns out that the someone I help oneself become Iron Man … when it was time to re - up for the 2d one , ( he ) took the money that was imagine to go to me and pushed me out . "
The unnamed " he " would be Robert Downey Jr. , who was famously paid extraordinary amounts of money for his run as Tony Stark in no fewer than 10 MCU films . Howard elaborated after server Andy Cohen commented,“The word was that you wanted the same money as Downey . “According to Howard :
" We did a three - picture quite a little , so that means that you did the deal before of sentence . It was going to be a sure amount for the first one , a certain amount for the second one , a certain amount for the third . They follow to me with the second and said , ' Look , we will pay you one - one-eighth of what we contractually had for you , because we think the second one will be successful with or without you . ' And I called my friend - that I helped get the first job - and he did n’t call me back for three month . "
By the meter of the interview it had been years since that encounter ( or miss thereof ) . Cohen asked how things were between Howard and Downey at the time of the sequence . Howard ’s reply was unamused , hinting at tensions still existing between the two actors :
" Oh , I love him . God ’s lead to consecrate him . "
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Of course , it ’s now been class since the interview feature the above Revelation , so Howard and Downey could have patched up their family relationship in the meantime . In an diligence where pay particular - especially those have-to doe with huge megahit moving-picture show like Marvel ’s - are generally not widely publicize , Howard ’s revelation were surprising . But a day later , Showbizcafe.com ’s Tony Rico appeared on NBC’sTodayand provided the monetary amounts Howard was referring to . basically , rather than compensate Howard the $ 8 million forIron Man 2per his contract , Marvel Studios offered him $ 1 million instead . agree to Howard , the money promised to him would go to Robert Downey Jr. instead .
Rhodey In Iron Man 2 Was Recast Because Of A Pay Dispute
Many franchise roles are recast between films ( Edward Norton ’s Hulk was remould with Mark Ruffalo , for example ) . It ’s the nature of ongoing storytelling through blockbuster installments , and constantly renegotiated contract . While Rhodey was polar at cardinal point during the first movie , that cinema was first and first the RDJ show . Howard was self-coloured as Rhodey inIron Man , but it was really Cheadle who put his impression on the character in the two continuation . There is no hard report on how much Cheadle was give in Howard ’s place .
Marvel has somewhat of a reputation for low - balling their actors . But it was always unlike for the character of Iron Man , given his position at the nexus of the MCU -Robert Downey Jr. was paid a $ 50 millionAvengerssalary – and while negotiations between Downey and Marvel forThe Avengers : Age of Ultronwere reputedly not easy , he finally signed on for that pic adopt the billion - dollar sign success ofIron Man 3 . Terrence Howard was clearly still acerb about the whole passel at the time of the audience more than three years on . What ’s less than clear-cut is how Howard help oneself Downey gain the purpose . While it ’s public knowledge that other actors - like Sam Rockwell , who would come out as Justin Hammer inIron Man 2- were considered for Iron Man , not much is known about the process otherwise .
Howard was in all likelihood rag about miss out on such a lucrative franchise , but also somewhat unwilling to compromise on his own worth . It ’s not potential to know what his career would count like had he continued asWar Machine in theIron ManandAvengersfilms ( Don Cheadle has so far come along in seven films as well asThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier , and takes a lead role inArmor Wars ) , but Howard has preserve to solve , appearing in pic and tv set series since . Whether or not it was the correct choice to step away from his fibre of Rhodey in theIron Manmovies and the MCU cinema that followed , at least Marvel fans know why Terrence Howard decide not to reprise his role .
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