While Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark may “build neat stuff, [have] a great girl and occasionally save the world, why can’t [he] sleep?” Could it be because of the looming guilt of forcing former co-star and friend Terrence Howard out of the billion-dollar Iron Man series?
Howard, who was replaced by Don Cheadle as James Rhodes in Iron Man 2, explained in a recent interview why he was unable to reprise his role, reports dailymail.co.uk. “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,” Howard claimed.
This is not the first time that the actor has talked about his surprising dismissal from the Marvel franchise. Earlier this year, he referred to his replacement in Iron Man 2 as a move that is “killing [his] career”, according to hollywoodreporter.com.
Howard was one of the highest paid cast members in the original Iron Man movie, but was hastily cut from the two sequels despite contractual obligations. “They came to me with the second and said, ‘Look, we will pay you one eighth of what we contractually had for you because we think the second one will be successful with or without you,” said Howard. “I called ‘my friend’ that I helped get the first job, and he didn’t call me back for three months.”
When asked how things are now between him and Downey Jr, he balefully replied, “Oh I love him, God is going to bless him.”
It appears God already has, as earlier this year Downey Jr signed a two-picture agreement to reprise his role as Tony Stark in both The Avengers 2 and The Avengers 3.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2013.
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