Actor Replacements That Wound Up Being Upgrades For The Movie
By Ava Barnes
Released in 2008, "Iron Man" was the film that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It introduced the iconic character of Tony Stark, a role that cemented Robert Downey Jr. as one of the most well-known and highest paid actors in the MCU to date.
In the first film, Tony's best friend Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes is portrayed by Terrence Howard, who was a real-life friend to Downey Jr. at the time. Initially, Howard was a shoo-in for Marvel as he'd just come off his Oscar-nominated role in "Hustle & Flow" alongside the Academy Award-winning film "Crash." However, after the massive success of "Iron Man," Howard allegedly wanted a pay increase to match that of lead Downey Jr. In an appearance on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," he had a three-film contract with Marvel, and they were supposed to pay him $8 million for the sequel. However, after all was said and done, he was only offered $1 million, with the rest of his salary going to Downey Jr. According to Howard, Downey Jr. would not have the role of Iron Man if it wasn't for him.
Because of the drama, Howard was given the boot and replaced by fellow "Crash" star Don Cheadle. Cheadle would go on to portray the character of Rhodey-turned-hero War Machine in multiple other films. And while Howard's performance was good in "Iron Man," Cheadle brings an elegance to the role as he grows into more than just Iron Man's sidekick throughout the franchise.
