As we reported last week, Terrence Howard is reportedly being replaced as Jim Rhodes in Iron Man 2 by Don Cheadle. The Hollywood Reporter inferred that Howard was asking for more money to come back to the role and instead of meeting his demands, he was simply replaced. The awkward part? The news apparently came to Howard the same way it came to the rest of us.
“It was the surprise of a lifetime,” Terrence tells NPR, sounding none too pleased. “There was no explanation. [The contract] just…up and vanished. I read something in the trades implicating that it was about money or something, but 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.”
[From OK! Magazine]
At first glance, one might think that was bad form on the part of Marvel Studios. There are some things you really should discuss personally with people, and axing them from a plum role in a blockbuster movie is probably one of them. But Marvel Studios President of Production, Kevin Fleige, says not so fast.
“As is the policy with most people, when you talk about dotting I’s and crossing T’s, certainly that isn’t the case yet on a number of things we’re doing,” he says. “But that [Hollywood Reporter story] was not an announcement. That was, as it tends to happen in the business, is rumors and leaks and things like that. I do think there will be clarity soon.”
[From OK! Magazine]
In other words, someone at Marvel Studios told The Hollywood Reporter before they told Terrance Howard. Either way, it lacked professionalism and Howard has the right to be a little pissed off. No one enjoys it when the rest of the office sees their getting a pink slip before they even know they’re getting fired, in this case the office is the whole movie-going public and the pink slip is an article in an industry publication.
Terrence Howard is shown performing in NY on 8/21/08. Don Cheadle is shown outside The Late Show on 8/26/08. Credit: Bauergriffinonline.com. Cheadle is also shown golfing at “Kiki’s 1st Annual Celebrity Golf Challenge Presented by ALIZE” in Tarzana, CA on 10/13/08.
Bummer. I’d prefer there to be no bad blood between anyone. Might be awkward between Don and Howard now.
Poor Terence. Is he really just learning now that it’s ALL about money in Hollywood? 🙄
i heard that whole NPR interview with him, and I have to say that he gave an awesome, profound interview about acting and life. I encourage everyone to go listen to it on NPR-it was really inspiring. dont normally enjoy actor interviews all that much since most of them are shallow and insipid and dumb, but he blew me away.
Hmmm, There are better black actors and white actors than Terrance.
I wouldn’t have gone with Cheadle, he doesn’t have the physique in my opinion, same way I wouldn’t go with Michael Duncan Clarke.
However, Joe Morgan has more mass, and could play the role. Just an example.
There are plenty others, Momoa from SG Atlantis, although height wise might put Tony to shame…
Well that is what he gets for assuming he was worth more to the studio/movie than he was. These celebrities need to remind themselves that they are grossly over paid for what they do, and in this economy, the last thing I want to hear about is another spoiled celebrity whining over money and movie roles. What he makes per film, few make in a life time.
devilgirl: Exactly what I was thinking. Boo freakin’ hoo.
Cheadle is awesome! As for physique, actors are quite capable of bulking up for a role. Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, etc.
I rented Iron Man and was disappointed. It really wasn’t as great as all the hype suggested. And Howard wasn’t that bad but I would take Cheadle, who could act circles around 99% of all the other actors in Hollywood, over Howard any day. Hotel Rawanda is one of my fav movies, I’ve never cried so hard during a movie.
Cheadle has way more class. You’d never hear him talking about cleaning butts with baby wipes.
No no no. Still not a fan of this casting change. Terrence was great, why change?
I love Don Cheadle. I watch anything he’s in just on principle because I generally enjoy whatever he does. That said, I strongly dislike it when they replace the original actors in a series like Ironman with new ones. In my mind, they should have kept the other guy (Howard?) on unless he was doing something to embarrass the company or demanding (without negotiation) compensation far and away beyond his paygrade. It doesn’t sound like the man gave any ultimatum…otherwise, he wouldn’t be so surprised at his replacement.
Not surprising… Howard is very militant on certain things… Unfortunately Hollywood and Principles don’t match… A-Listers in Hollywood who make the big bucks may or may not be as deserving as other talented actors, we know especially Black A-Listers are few and far in between… As an african american actor he’s gotta be true more to the art and not the money… I think Will Smith is someone who’s humble enough to not be demanding and it makes Hollywood wanna work with someone of his talent. I don’t know how true it really is, but I continually hear how much of a Diva Terrence can be from way back… I have to wonder if there’s any truth to it because things like this keep coming up.
For the record, I love Howard as a performer and I hate that they’re changing the character… I wish they could’ve worked it out!