When Terrence Howard first got news that he’d be replaced in “Iron Man 2,” by Don Cheadle — the same way you and I did: through the trade announcements — in mid November, the actor was surprisingly zen about it.
Cut to about five months later and Howard has taken the gloves on and has become very frank about the matter in an interview with Sci-fi wire. The actor, who played Jim Rhodes, Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) best friend in the original “Iron Man,” says his dismissal (and replacement) was tantamount to betrayal and backstabbing from Marvel Studios, though admittedly in a very bizarre manner.
“Marvel…made a choice. They made a very, very bad choice. They didn’t keep their word. They didn’t honor our contract. They sent everyone out into a field and told them to work and produce a great bounty. You produce a great bounty, and then when it’s all in the storehouse, you are not allowed into the storehouse.”
The actor insists the alleged lowballing Marvel did to Samuel L. Jackson and Mickey Rourke before they eventually signed on, is something they did to every actor, including Gwyneth Paltrow. Everyone, but Robert Downey Jr., that is. He also seems to be slightly bitter (or disappointed) that there was no ensemble solidarity when it came to negotiating with Marvel.
“They did the same thing with Gwyneth [Paltrow], from what I’ve been told. They did it with almost everyone, I think, except Downey throughout the thing. One of the things that actors need to learn to do is take a tip from Friends [whose cast members all held out for higher pay]. You always choose to stick together. One for all and all for one. Our Gang, you know? Let Spanky be our rule.”
Howard said the lesson he’s learned in Hollywood politics is to, “make sure your Ts are crossed twice” and suggests he need not take revenge with spoiling plot details of “Iron Man 2 & 3” because instant karma will eventually get them. “When someone does something wrong, you don’t have to get them back. Everything right will return the favor for you” (though presumably since the ‘IM2’ script was barely finished before shooting started he only know basic hopes and ideas).
Some of his comments may seem a little angry, and it’s probably understandable, but Howard has nothing, but classy and positive things to say about his replacement. “I want to see Don Cheadle become me. I want him to do better than me. That’s what I really want to see. I think he can. Don Cheadle is the reason I got on Crash. He was one of the producers on Crash, and he called and got me in there. So it’s like Don is good by me, anything he does. He’s given me the greatest gift I could ever imagine having. Don gave me that, so anything I have, I’ll share with him.”