Don Cheadle to Play James Rhoades in Iron Man 2

[fitbabits]

And Terence Howard is pissed:

Terrence Howard says he was surprised to learn that Don Cheadle would replace him in "Iron Man 2."

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/22/iron.man.terrence.howard.ap/art.terrence.howard.ap.jpg




"It was the surprise of a lifetime," the actor and musician told National Public Radio on Tuesday. "There was no explanation, (the contract) just up and vanished."

Howard said he read news reports that money was the issue, saying the contracts he signs apparently "aren't worth the paper that they're printed on sometimes."

Cheadle assumes the role of James Rhodes, a character that becomes Iron Man's sidekick War Machine in the comics, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as weapons mogul Tony Stark.

Howard (http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Terrence_Howard), who also starred in "Hustle & Flow," is promoting his new album "Shine Through It."

[Ghost Rider]

It's kind of sad that if a actor breaches his contract with a studio there's a cosiderable fuss but the studios can just do whatever they want. I know 'that's showbiz' but there's obviously some politics involved. The franchise is so profitable I can't see it being purely over money, especially as Howard isn't exactly a major player in the movie industry.

I don't know what else to say.. except... : It sucks.

[LongStepMantis]

So was the rumor that they dumped him for holding out for too much money untrue?
He could just be covering himself as to not look like a douche. He never gives anything more than vague descriptions.

[Dave]

This does really blow, and I say that being a fan of both Cheadle and Howard. If anything, I'd hope that the cast from the original might stay intact... save for maybe Paltrow, but even she wasn't really that annoying.

[Xerxes]

I would have taken Howard over Cheadle for this role. Cheadle seems like indie deep roles. Him being silly in Rush Hour 2 makes for an awkward moment for me. He seems too slick sometimes. Whiny sidekick getting dragged around fit Howard. His voice was a little to high pitched but it wasn't that bad.

[rinichanraar]

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=1109

I think you've been beaten.

But yours does have more info about Terrence Howard's response, so I guess it's okay. Interesting that he had no idea about it.

Maybe this calls for a thread merge?

[Iron Past]

I didn't recognize the name, so I googled an image and saw this:

http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/020925/165043__cheadle_l.jpg

I can't look at him the same again...

I also think it's a shame if only for continuity's sake.