Terrence Howard was one of the first actors cast in the live-action version of Marvel’s Iron Man back in 2008, when the MCU was still not a household name. Superhero action was a resounding success, not only launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also setting the tone and formula for many future MCU endeavors.
Iron Man turned Robert Downey Jr. became the global celebrity it is today. Unfortunately, Terrence Howard, the highest-paid actor in Iron Man, did not reprise his role as Tony Stark’s friend James Rhodes in the sequel, prompting the producers to replace him with Don Cheadle. The alleged pay cut was the basis for Howard’s dismissal.
Terrence Howard left Iron Man 2 because of a salary disagreement.
Many were shocked by Terrence’s disappearance, especially since his ill-fated line, “Next time, honey,” which mistakenly foreshadowed his War Machine suit. His removal from Iron Man 2 was due to a salary disagreement with the producer. After Iron Man’s popularity, Howard is said to have been asked to work for less than the previously agreed contract amount. In addition to the salary conflict, some outlets have stated that replacing Terrence as War Machine is due to efficiency. According to insiders, Howard was a difficult actor to work with and had disagreements with the film’s director, Jon Favreau. However, neither side has verified such claims and the issue of pay cuts continues.
According to sources, the conflict arose when the producer asked Howard to reduce his salary because Favreau and screenwriter Justin Theroux were considering cutting the actor’s contract. Terrence Howard is said to have left the project due to a 50% to 80% fee cut. Surprisingly, the argument sparked a fight between Howard and Robert Downey Jr., with the former accusing the latter of not taking his side.
When asked about the controversy during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Terrence said:
“It turned out that the guy I helped become Iron Man pocketed the money that should have belonged to me and pushed me out when it was time to sign up again.”
When pressed further by Andy Cohen, asked if the problem arose because he wanted Downey’s salary, Terrence Howard clarified:
“We agreed on three images. That means you planned ahead. There was supposed to be a certain amount for the first picture, a certain amount for the second and a certain amount for the second picture. third. They approached me about the second picture and said, ‘We’ll pay you one-eighth of the money we have on your contract because we believe the second contract will be successful with you. or not.’ And when I called the friend who got me my first job, he didn’t call me for three months.”
When asked about Terrence Howard’s friendship with RDJ, the Prisoner actor replied sarcastically:
“Oh, how much I admire him. God will reward him.”
Terrence Howard even stated in an interview with Rolling Stone that he called Downey 17 times without success. However, in 2008, Robert Downy Jr. denied any involvement in the removal of Howard from the film and declined to say more.
Downey’s Tony Stark/Iron Man character became the main protagonist of the series until he died in space at the end of the Infinity Saga in Avengers: Endgame. On the other hand, Don Cheadle has been playing War Machine since 2010 and will likely reprise the role in upcoming projects like Secret Invasion and Armor Wars.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: vcmp.edu.vn