Considering how big the Marvel universe has become, the company has done a pretty good job of keeping actors from hit movies around to make sure things are consistent — well, except for one.
As most fans already know, Terrence Howard played Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes in the first Iron Man flick, then was replaced by Don Cheadle for the next two sequels. Marvel always cited a vague contract dispute, but now Howard has opened up about what really went down — and he says it’s all Robert Downey Jr.’s fault.
According to Howard, “the person [he] helped become Iron Man” (aka Downey) pushed him out during contract negotiations, and took his raise for himself, apparently leaving Howard with a smaller offer.
Here’s how he explained it during a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live:
“This is gonna get me in a lot of trouble. 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."We did a three picture deal. You did the deal ahead of time. A certain amount for the first one. For the second a certain amount. For the third…they came to me for the second one and said, 'We will pay you 1/8th 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 who I helped get the first job and he didn't call me back for three months.”
Ouch. Obviously, it’s hard for anyone other than those who were actually there to say what went down — but if this is true, it sounds like Howard did get the raw end of the deal. Are you glad they replaced Howard, or do you wish he'd have stuck around?
(Via HitFix)
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