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We Need to Know Why Did Don Cheadle Replace Terrence Howard in the MCU?

As many of us eagerly look forward to the next MCU film, we can not lend a hand however revisit the past. With that stated, why did Don Cheadle replace Terrence Howard?

Source: Getty Images

For the previous 20 years, the MCU has executed a horny first rate job of building an interconnected franchise. While most of the core cast has stuck with the studio for a number of projects, there's been plenty of recasts all through the years.

While many noticeable recasts instantly come to thoughts, let's start with the first-ever MCU recast — James "Rhodey" Rhodes. Terrence Howard portrayed the persona in 2008's Iron Man, but if it came time for the sequel, he was once quietly changed by way of Don Cheadle. Why is that? Keep reading for all the recognized details.

Source: Paramount Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Don Cheadle changed Terrence Howard as Rhodey in the MCU.

Why did Don Cheadle replace Terrence Howard in the MCU?

Despite being the highest-paid actor in Iron Man, Terrence Howard didn't reprise his position as Rhodey in the sequel. As a outcome, Don Cheadle stepped in and took on the mantle — but why? Well, as it turns out, Terrence left the budding superhero franchise due to salary disputes.

Robert Downey Jr.'s salary dramatically increased for the sequel to just about $10 million; on account of this, Marvel Studios deliberate to drastically lower Terrence's salary to what the actor stated was once simply $40,000 per film. This didn't sit neatly with Terrence, who claimed to have taken a $1 million pay aid for Iron Man so the studio could rent RDJ.

Source: Paramount Pictures

There was once no "next time," and thus, this 'Iron Man' scene elderly like milk.

On being replaced, Terrence spoke with NPR in 2008 and mentioned, "There was no explanation, 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."

In the end, Terrence's publicist stated he had a just right revel in operating on the movie — however the same can't be mentioned for those at the back of the camera. Multiple insiders informed Entertainment Weekly that Terrence used to be difficult to paintings with, including that director Jon Favreau and his producers were "unhappy with Howard's performance and spent a lot of time cutting and reshooting his scenes."

As a results of his lackluster performance, Jon Favreau and screenwriter Justin Theroux decided to scale back the role. The minimal storyline led Marvel to call Terrence's agents with a brand new and tremendously lowered offer. By the subsequent day, Don Cheadle had been employed as his alternative.

Terrence Howard blamed RDJ for his recasting.

In November 2013, the Empire megastar addressed his recasting and subtly blamed RDJ.

"It turns out that the person that I helped become Iron Man, when it was time to […] re-up for the second one, took the money that was supposed to go to me and pushed me out," Terrence mentioned on Watch What Happens Live. "We did a three-picture deal. So that means, you did the deal ahead of time. It was going to be a certain amount for the first one, a certain amount for the second, certain amount for the third."

There are nonetheless few things as funny as Terrence Howard having a look at a spare Iron Man suit and hopefully pronouncing "Next time!" best to then be recast with Don Cheadle for the subsequent movie

— David J Bradley, Come Home! (@DavidJBradley1) July 27, 2022

He persisted, "They came to me [for] the second and said, 'We will pay you 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 didn't call me back for three months."

Terrence additional elaborated in a 2015 Rolling Stone profile, telling the outlet that he known as RDJ a number of occasions an afternoon but by no means heard back: "And guess who got the millions I was supposed to get? He got the whole franchise, so I've actually given him $100 million, which ends up being a $100 million loss for me from me trying to look after somebody, but, you know, to this day, I would do the same thing. It's just my nature."

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Abbie Anker

Update: 2024-06-08