How Terrence Howard lost the role of Rhodey in Iron Man 2

An actor too angry for Hollywood?

Terrence Howard explains why he was replaced by Don Cheadle in the second part ofIron Man.

He is the first actor to have taken on the costume of Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodey, friend of the legendary hero of the Marvel universe, iron man. Terrence Howard, nominated for an Oscar for best actor in 2006 for Hustle & Flowhowever, was not back in the second opus.

According to him, it is his fiery temperament which is at the origin of this prank. The actor of Awake signs a career strewn with pitfalls, which would be due to his “aggressiveness”, well known in the profession. The actor today recognizes that his explosive character as well as his “need to assert his virility” cost him many opportunities.

At the origin of this prank? A falling out with the American producer, Joe Silver. Terrence Howard allegedly threatened him “break your teeth”. In 2007, during the promotion of the film The Brave One with Jodie Foster, the actor would have expressed his frustration to Silver: his name not appearing at the top of the poster unlike the star of the Silence of the Lambs. He then replied that he was not the star of the film and that if he got an Oscar nomination, it would be in the category supporting Actor–supporting role and not best actor. A response that Rhodey’s interpreter obviously couldn’t stand…

Terrence Howard: “My worst experience? When Iron Man ruined my career”

Previously, EW had reported that the director, John Favreau, was unhappy with Howard’s performance. Words that the latter described as “the biggest surprise of his life”.

16 years later, the actor seems to have taken a step back…

In an episode of the PBD podcast, just released online, he reports that Denzel Washington once advised him to let his guard down: “TYou always have your fists clenched, while the producers try to open them for you to put money in. You ruin everything.”

The actor also claimed to be blacklisted by Hollywood after the lawsuit he filed against Disney. In 2020, the actor sued 20th Century, which was then owned by Disney, for unpaid compensation over the commercial exploitation of the musical series Empire. He said: “You are no longer on their list because you broke the most important rule: never speakr”.

Despite this, Terrence Howard remains one of the most iconic figures in Hollywood, Hustle & Flow has Empire passing through The Hunting Party And… Iron ManSO.