'09
There is an old Hollywood saying that goes, “Never talk about the size of the salary or the size of the d*ck.” I’m paraphrasing – there are a lot of different ways it goes, and sometimes the “golden rule” changes. I’ve heard that many stars believe the golden rule is “Never talk about what you passed on, or why you were passed over.” One rule that I hope catches on is “Thou shall not criticize your own films, ’tis bad form.”
Anyway, Terrence Howard sort of broke one of the variations on the golden rule. He’s publicly criticizing the producers of Iron Man for recasting the part he originated, Col. Jim Rhodes. At the time of the casting shake-up, there was a rumor Terrence was jettisoned because of salary and attitude disputes – according to some reports, Terrence got a huge paycheck from the first film (more than Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, and perhaps on par with what Robert Downey Jr. got), and was demanding an increase for the sequel.
Terrence is trying to clear the air (re: save face). He tells Parade Magazine (story via OK! Magazine) that the producers made a “very, very bad choice” and they didn’t honor his contract. He also claims producers short-changed everyone except for Robert Downey, Jr.
After the runaway success of last summer’s Iron Man, it came as a big surprise to many that one of the film’s big stars, Terrence Howard, had been replaced for the currently filming sequel by Don Cheadle. Now, the Hustle & Flow star is speaking out about the situation — and he’s not happy.
In a new interview on Parade.com, Terrence says that the producers of the film, “made a choice, and it was a very, very bad choice. They didn’t keep their word. They didn’t honor my contract. They produced a great bounty with the first one but they put it all in the storehouse and you were not allowed in.”
And, at least according to Terrence, he wasn’t the only one getting short-changed by the filmmakers. “They did the same thing with Gwyneth Paltrow, from what I’ve been told,” he claims. “They did it with almost everyone except Robert Downey.”
All bad feelings aside, Terrence says he doesn’t plan on letting his sour grapes get the best of him. “I believe in karma. When someone does something wrong, you don’t have to get them back,” he explains. “Everything right will return the favor for you.”
From OK! Magazine
I go back and forth on Terrence Howard – I think he’s a really talented actor, but he seems like he may be a jerk in real life. I think parts of his story are probably correct, and parts of the “official” version are probably right too. My guess is that the producers probably were underpaying Gwyneth and Terrence’s salaries, but their biggest problem with Terrence is that he had “attitude problems” – meaning he didn’t just shut his mouth and take whatever salary was offered. And enough with the karma talk!
Images are stills from Iron Man, thanks to Allmoviephoto
Written by Kaiser
Posted in Gwyneth Paltrow, Movies, Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard
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25 Responses to “Terrence Howard says he & Gwyneth Paltrow got shafted by ‘Iron Man’”
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He wasn’t forced to do the movie, if he was unhappy with his pay surley he should take it up with his agents.
He should just shut up about this instead of getting all sissified.
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puhleez… someone pass the man a box of crybaby-wipes!
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Ummm… the one and only reason the first film was so popular is because RDJ made the character of Tony Stark so fabulous. They could make the sequel 2 hours of him just taking to that robotic arm and I would still love it!
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Great second shot there – which sums up the movie perfectly for me, since I had the feeling that director Jon Favreau had more screentime in it than Howard.
I don’t think Howard had anything to do with it’s success at all.
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I think he was great in the role and producers can do what they like with actors. IT’s just fact. You’re at the bottom of the food chain unfortunately.
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“They could make the sequel 2 hours of him just taking to that robotic arm and I would still love it!”
Agreed. I think they should have replaced Howard with the robotic arm. It had a helluva lot more charisma than Howard did.
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Hey the ONLY reason I paid money to see that movie was to see RDJ shirtless. I could care less (MUCH LESS) about the other twat actors.
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Howard does have an ego problem. And attitude problem. And everything problem, really.
Paltrow is a pretentious little-you-know-what.
YAY to the execs for giving the side characters a smaller paycheck. Seriously, it’s about time. Maybe this trend can continue.
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The film was all about RDJ – He’s the star – build a bridge Terrance.
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Still think its was wrong to re-cast him. Especially for an actor who looks NOTHING like him. It’s bad form. What, do we all look alike to the producers??
I’ll probably watch part 2, as long as it isn’t a piece a crap. The movie was a hit. I don’t understand why people are criticizing Howard, an Oscar nominated actor, for NOT wanting his paycheck downsized! I think that would be common since for most folks.
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As far as I’m concerned for what directors and actors do, they will always be overpaid. ALL OF THEM. I don’t care how much a certain film makes.
The people out there who should be making huge salaries are teachers, police and fire personnel. These are the very individuals who catch hell and are scoffed at when they go on strike! I have yet to see SAG members coming out in support of of higher wages for these individuals!
I’m sure someone will find a justification for the outrageous payments of actors, but doesn’t make it right!
I believe that it was Denzel Washington who said no actor is worth $20M. While I realize that he takes the money, he is one of the few who actually puts money back into the community and I’m not talking the big-bucks community.
Actors need to stop their whining about their paychecks. They don’t actually earn what the make in the first place!
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Well said, GIZ. I totally agree.
Besides that, Terrance Howard is a one-trick pony. He’s the same in every movie. I LOVE Don Cheadle and look forward to seeing him in the sequel.
Incidentally, did RDJ have surgery or something for this movie? I’ve never thought he was hot before but in Iron Man-Good Gracious. Maybe it was the facial hair.
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Can someone find this guy a press agent who will tell him to stfu?? Its embarassing already. Be a gentleman!
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Bogart, Howard is no gentleman. He’s a wife-beater and has been arrested as such. I loved him in Hustle and Flow and in other movies, too. I was crushing on him until I found out about his abuse of his ex-wife. Whatever a guy has got going for him is invalidated, in my book, by woman-beating. So, yeah, he’s a good actor, but I can no longer respect him as a human being.
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they are all overpaid…he needs to spend time with some real people who actually work for a living. whining twat.
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I heard that Terrence Howard got paid more than all the other actors, including Robert Downey, Jr. And then when they were in talks for the second movie he was demanding even more money so they said forget him. Plus I didn’t think he was all that good. He was a boring character.
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It’s always sad when you’re replaced by a bigger name, one that’s more talented and obviously much more discreet.
Boo hoo.
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I can’t get past this guy’s voice. It’s very distracting and makes me instantly dislike the character he’s playing.
Also, too echo what a few here have said – he just seems like a bit of a narcissistic pr-ck.
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Sounds like this hater of women has some deep-seeded problems. They don’t need him.
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lol! in this economy I’d play his part for 10% of what they paid him, lol! Dude you’re an actor having fun, getting famous, and being paid to make-believe, ggez!
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Uh oh, I think Terrence Howard is feeling a little “unclean.” Someone bring in the baby wipes! If anyone wants to know what that means just google Terrence Howard and baby wipes. It’ll be good for a laugh or cry.
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He is such a feminine-looking and feminine-sounding man that I have a hard time believing him in the role in the first place. He and RDJ had good chemistry, but RDJ has that with almost everyone. I have never really liked TH, but I love Don Cheadle. I am looking forward to the new cast and the new movie.
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I was over him when I heard about his domestic abuse rap.
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I’m not sure why he was cast for the role in the first place. His effeminate personality and wimpy persona doesn’t come close to fitting the persona of the military man he plays.
He made a good run exploiting race-based films but it was a mistake to cast him in the first Iron Man film. The only tragedy here is that Hollywood still makes the mistake of casting someone for a film based on their accolades over their ability to fit the role and make it come alive for the audience.
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Terrance Howard is not even nice to his fans!! I saw him yesterday at a burger place and he and his boys were ordering and TH turns around and looked straight at me and when I said hi to him he just acted like he didn’t see!! He didn’t say hi back he didn’t even give a nod!! I used to be a fan of his but after seeing the way he was acting like some big a** bit*h snob, I am no longer his fan! He thinks he’s to good to be courteous! There was also two girls that asked his bodyguard if they can take pictures with TH and he said no. If he didn’t want anybody bothering him, he should have sent his body guard to buy the food!!
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