Hopefully Don Cheadle will get a crack at some high-tech toys in Iron Man 2.
The Hollywood Reporter says that Don Cheadle will be stepping into the role of Jim Rhodes in Iron Man 2. Reportedly negotiations with Terrence Howard, who played the character in last summer’s blockbuster Iron Man, broke down over financial issues.
The rest of the main Iron Man players–director Jon Favreau, star Robert Downey, Jr., and Gwyneth Paltrow are set to return. Justin Theroux is writing the script for the sequel, which is set for a May 2010 release.
Interesting. Cheadle and Howard are both fine actors, but have different personas. While you always wish you could keep everything the same for a sequel, this is a more than workable cast change.
Marvel PURPOSEFULLY is not bringing Terrence back and it wasn’t because of money. Howard had a contract, why would he need to negotiate. The director and Downey both prefer to work with Terrence. Frankly it doesn’t pass the laugh test. Terrence or his team would never allow “alleged” negotiations (albeit of an existing agreement) stop them from being the first black superhero. And if Marvel truly said it was financing, why are they hiding under anonymity? One statement “leaked” to The Hollywood Reporter and every news agency is taking it as gospel. How GOSSIP travels.