Entertainment Weekly seems to have discovered the reasons as to why Terrence Howard‘s role of James Rhodes was re-cast for Iron Man 2.

While everyone automatically assumed that it was a monetary issue, it turned out to be a lot more than that. It’s said that because they cast Howard first, he was actually paid more than everyone else INCLUDING Robert Downey Jr., which is kind of unfathomable. If true, this is obviously not the fault of Terrence Howard, but when they tried to retract and pay him a lot less (like 50% to 80% less, they say) for the sequel, it wasn’t too appreciated, as you might expect.

Sources also seem to think that Howard was really tough to work with, required a lot of takes and, well… wasn’t the best choice, which had them minimizing his role for the sequel. Because of all of this, they cut their losses and moved on to cast Don Cheadle instead.

Iron Man
Ultimate 2-Disc Edition
Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard
Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: September 30, 2008

Before The Dark Knight came along in July, Iron Man was the big box office hit of the summer and the new superhero film favorite of the masses — and with good reason. Director Jon Favreau took a long-time Marvel superhero who was little known to the general public and made him a household name. But while Favreau directing prowess got this project off the ground, it’s doubtful that audiences would have embraced the film without Robert Downey Jr.‘s charismatic portrayal of billionaire playboy/engineering genius Tony Stark, who dons his high-tech suit of armor to become the superhero Iron Man.

Unlike with The Incredible Hulk — another of this summer’s Marvel superhero flicks — Iron Man allows the audience to get to know its hero and fall in love with his human side before the superhero aspects come into being. Iron Man introduces us to weapons manufacturer Tony Stark: he’s handsome, he’s rich, he’s charming, and he’s funny as hell; the ladies love him and he sure does love the ladies. Stark’s confidence is alluring, so even when he’s gravely injured and abducted by hostile Afghani terrorists during a product pitch to the U.S. military, he’s never looked upon as a victim (the way Edward Norton’s Dr. Bruce Banner is in The Incredible Hulk). You know with an attitude like his, Stark is bound to not only find a way out of his dire situation, but also turn it to his advantage.

No surprise here, but Terrence Howard was recently interviewed and asked about why he was replaced by Don Cheadle for Iron Man 2.

Sources had said that Howard was out for the Iron Man sequel because of “monetary disagreement.” But according to Howard, he has no idea why he was replaced and was completely surprised by the news that surprised most everyone who heard it.

Iron Man
Ultimate 2 Disc Edition (Blu-ray)
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow
Paramount Home Video
Release date: September 30, 2008

When Iron Man first blasted into theaters, I was not so sure what to expect from the movie. I am a huge Robert Downey Jr. fan and always had a special place in my heart for Terrence Howard, but things that look this good on paper always end up either being a tolerable film to a train wreck. We now know that Iron Man was a huge success in the box office, becoming on of the top grossing movies of 2008. Now on DVD and Blu-Ray, can Iron Man once again grab viewers and propel this into their DVD collection?

Robert Downey Jr. plays the title character and his alter ego Tony Stark, billionaire inventor/industrialist. On a trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate his latest weapons to the U.S. military, rebel terrorist group The Ten Rings attacks Stark’s convoy and kidnaps him. It is during his captivity that he discovers the weapons his created to better mankind might also be placed in the hands of those who wish to destroy it. Unable to live with this fact, Stark creates a suit of armor to fight those who use his weapons to hurt innocents as the Invincible Iron Man.

After some sort of disagreement, the role of Tony Stark’s best friend Jim Rhodes originally played by Terrence Howard in Iron Man, has been re-cast with Don Cheadle for the eventual Iron Man 2.

The exact reasons behind this unexpected turn of events is unknown, but it’s looking like some stupid monetary disagreement. Someone needs to chat with whoever is negotiating these deals, as it’s never a good omen to have disputes like this and this already makes two for the young project after difficulties arose while trying to reach a deal with director Jon Favreau.

Although Don Cheadle is a great actor, it will only hurt the second movie for fans when they have to warm up to a whole new Rhodey — especially with that character looking to expand in a huge way as War Machine at some point in the franchise. It’s just plain and simple weird to have a face to a character and then have that face change… EVEN in the world of superheroes.