By Marvel Press Release

Marvel’s IRON MAN continues to attract Hollywood gold as Marvel Studios announced today that Academy-Award-nominee Terrence Howard has joined the cast of the highly-anticipated film. Howard will take on the role of Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes, Tony Stark’s best friend, in the project slated to launch into theaters May 2, 2008.

The addition of Howard solidifies an impressive foundation for Marvel Entertainment’s first self-financed and produced feature film that also includes Oscar-nominee Robert Downey Jr. in the title role and Jon Favreau directing.

As Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes, Howard will portray Tony Stark’s confidant and associate. Rhodey is an accomplished military pilot. His daring and skills become valuable assets to Tony Stark — the billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who becomes the armored superhero known as Iron Man.

“When we first began to think about IRON MAN, we always envisioned Terrence as Rhodey. The richness of the role and complexity of the character seemed to mesh perfectly with the type of passion, energy and emotion that Howard brings to all of his projects,” said Kevin Feige, President of Production, Marvel Studios. “Now with Terrence on board to co-star alongside Robert, we cannot be more excited about the great chemistry they will bring to IRON MAN.”

Howard exploded onto the Hollywood scene in 2005 after delivering strong performances in such films as HUSTLE & FLOW, for which he received an Academy Award Best Actor nod, and the Oscar-winning Best Picture CRASH.

Marvel Studios is currently casting all other supporting roles. Filming is slated to begin in Los Angeles in February 2007. The film will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.