Iron Man 2 Howard finally speaks!

[Raiden]

Even as someone who wished Howard and Marvel had been able to work something out, I'll admit that he does come across as a bit a *****e bag with some of his recent comments regarding IM2.

I had spoken openly against the recast, but now I'm also tired of Howard's rant and I wish he'd move on from this and focus on the future instead.

 

[Chris B]

I had spoken openly against the recast, but now I'm also tired of Howard's rant and I wish he'd move on from this and focus on the future instead.

Yeah. It also makes me wonder if perhaps Cheadle should've been cast in the first place.

 

[Artistsean]

His remarks about "I have seen the script and I wont reveal anything, because I believe in karma."
Is he implying that he has seen that the movie will be horrible and is just going to sit back and watch it bomb, grinning because the studio recast him?

 

[Ironfan72]

I don't know how he's seen the script, he was replaced well before the movie's first script was done.
I was on the fence about Howards departure for what ever reason, I didn't have a problem with him as Rhodey and was confused as to why they replaced him, Cheadle is not a down grade and is very talented actor.
I'm to the point in my opinion that Howard is only hurting himself by showing how he can't take rejection and move on with his career, these things happen in Hollywood, but most actors suck it up and move on with their careers and be classey about it, Howard is not taking the high road, instead taking every oppurtunity to attack Marvel, Jon Favreau and Robert Downey, Jr. and it's a shame.

 

[FaT_tONle]

I'd be pretty pissed too. Imagine Marvel coming to your agent and saying "we are going to cut your screen time and therefore you have to take a paycut." He may have been difficult to work with, and maybe Favreau could not co-exist with him, but we don't know what happened on that set and to what extent.

 

[kedrell]

Hiring him was Avi Arad's idea, as far as I know. If Jon had been hired before any of the actors for IM1, there's a good chance Howard would never have gotten the job in the first place. I do think he'll be able to pull off a better movie with Cheadle(someone he chose) in the role.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Hiring him was Avi Arad's idea, as far as I know. If Jon had been hired before any of the actors for IM1, there's a good chance Howard would never have gotten the job in the first place. I do think he'll be able to pull off a better movie with Cheadle(someone he chose) in the role.

Where did you hear that one?

I had spoken openly against the recast, but now I'm also tired of Howard's rant and I wish he'd move on from this and focus on the future instead.

If what Howard says is true, and his contract was not honored then he has every right to be pissed. And it's easy to say that Howard should just move on and focus on the future, when it's not your potential income that is being dealt with.

 

[Chewy]

If what Howard says is true, and his contract was not honored then he has every right to be pissed. And it's easy to say that Howard should just move on and focus on the future, when it's not your potential income that is being dealt with.

If that were true he would be in the middle of suing them right now. He was probably optioned for sequels, and Marvel chose not to pick up said option.

 

[Ironfan72]

I don't know if we will ever know what happpened, because the only one we are hearing from is Howard, while Marvel, Favreau and everyone else have said nothing, so right now all we are getting is one side of the story and rumors from the otherside.
The problem is too, if Marvel did come to Howard and say that they wanted him to take a pay cut for the what turned out to be limited screen time, that is not out of form from what Marvel has done since Iron Man came out, they low balled Jackson, Rourke & Johansson, and I beleive Howard was the first signed and rumors were he was the highest paid actor in the film, higher paid than the star Robert Downey, so I would imagine Marvel felt it was unfair to Robert to be the lower paid star, who knows.

 

[greenlantern248]

Hiring him was Avi Arad's idea, as far as I know. If Jon had been hired before any of the actors for IM1, there's a good chance Howard would never have gotten the job in the first place. I do think he'll be able to pull off a better movie with Cheadle(someone he chose) in the role.

Actually if I'm not mistaken Jon was hired before the actors were.
Jon was hired in April 2006, Howard was hired after RDJ
In a direct quote from Howard himself:

“Getting the chance to work with Robert Downey Jr. attracted me to the role more than anything else,” reveals Howard. “I first saw him in `Weird Science' and thought he was hilarious, and then when he did `Chaplin' I realized he was a genius.”

Source http://madeinatlantis.com/movies_central/2008/iron_man_production_details.htm

So I guess Jon did have some say in Howard's hiring.

 

[3 Dev Adam]

I really think that Cheadle will be better, so...

 

[kedrell]

Actually if I'm not mistaken Jon was hired before the actors were.
Jon was hired in April 2006, Howard was hired after RDJ
In a direct quote from Howard himself:



So I guess Jon did have some say in Howard's hiring.

I know for a fact that Howard was hired before RDJ. I'm not quite as sure that he was hired before Jon, but I have heard that. I do know Arad was talking to him about the role well before Jon was hired. I'll search for those old web-pages in the Iron Man movie forum. Maybe Howard meant that he was attracted to working with RDJ even though he had already been hired. He probably had some idea of who they were talking to about the Stark role.

 

[3 Dev Adam]

IIRC, Howard's name appeared on the press way before Downey's. Can't say this is a definitive hint about the casting, but...

 

[Rock Sexton]

................did anyone see Howard's new head shots?

I can't even begin to tell you how glad I am that I don't have to listen to that sissy-azz voice and those weird, twinkly eyes awkwardly staring deeply into RDJ's soul.......it was scary and quite uncomfortable to watch........

 

[Rock Sexton]

I don't know if we will ever know what happpened, because the only one we are hearing from is Howard, while Marvel, Favreau and everyone else have said nothing, so right now all we are getting is one side of the story and rumors from the otherside.
The problem is too, if Marvel did come to Howard and say that they wanted him to take a pay cut for the what turned out to be limited screen time, that is not out of form from what Marvel has done since Iron Man came out, they low balled Jackson, Rourke & Johansson, and I beleive Howard was the first signed and rumors were he was the highest paid actor in the film, higher paid than the star Robert Downey, so I would imagine Marvel felt it was unfair to Robert to be the lower paid star, who knows.

At the end of the day, it's Marvel's money. They can do what they want with it. I don't blame them for low-balling anyone ......that's business...... learned it a million times in this life......and in this particular case they clearly upgraded. No more effeminate Rhodey..... now we have a guy with a personality and some wit.

 

[kedrell]

Howard has never struck me as a guy with all that big a sense of humor. He seems to keep to serious roles. Cheadle is definitely an upgrade since he(like RDJ) has a knack for both.

 

[Ironfan72]

At the end of the day, it's Marvel's money. They can do what they want with it. I don't blame them for low-balling anyone ......that's business...... learned it a million times in this life......and in this particular case they clearly upgraded. No more effeminate Rhodey..... now we have a guy with a personality and some wit.

I agree, I can't imagine that Howard was signed to a three picture deal with out clauses for re-negotiations by Marvel depending of how much screen time he had, I don't think or haven't heard where Marvel re-negotiated with RDJ or Paltrow it just seems they may have doen it with Howard for what ever reason.
I like Don Cheadle and personally think he is an upgrade at the role, but that said, I like Howard and I hate to see what is a essentailly a major role/character be changed over possilble contract issues.

 

[Iron_Stark]

I know for a fact that Howard was hired before RDJ. I'm not quite as sure that he was hired before Jon, but I have heard that. I do know Arad was talking to him about the role well before Jon was hired. I'll search for those old web-pages in the Iron Man movie forum. Maybe Howard meant that he was attracted to working with RDJ even though he had already been hired. He probably had some idea of who they were talking to about the Stark role.

He sure was, because I remember the debates about making Tony Stark black when people thought Howard was going to get the main role.

 

[Ironfan72]

I remember that as well, he was hired a month before Robert Downey. Howard was announced as Rhodes August 1st 2006 and Downey over a month later September of '06.

 

[kedrell]

Thanks, I knew my memory couldn't be THAT rusty. And I distinctly recall reading somewhere that Arad was in talks with Howard about the role even prior to Favs getting the directors gig in April of 06. Now, I'm sure Marvel was talking to Favs long before that but it does lend credence to the notion that casting Howard in the role wasn't Fav's idea really.

 

[BigCityBoy]

Thanks, I knew my memory couldn't be THAT rusty. And I distinctly recall reading somewhere that Arad was in talks with Howard about the role even prior to Favs getting the directors gig in April of 06. Now, I'm sure Marvel was talking to Favs long before that but it does lend credence to the notion that casting Howard in the role wasn't Fav's idea really.

Arad was in talks with Howard for a long time to get him to play Diamondback in the Luke Cage movie that never did get off the ground, so I guess Arad offered Howard the Rhodey role since it was the next best thing.

 

[TheVileOne]

Its interesting. In the Maxim interview, Howard acts like he hated Iron Man and it was a terrible experience. Then in the Parade interview, Howard acts like Marvel betrayed him and he liked the role. Very weird.

Didn't Downey Jr. comment on the situation and basically kept it mum but did say he was good friends with Howard and liked working with him?

As far as the Arad thing. I think EW echoed that Howard was signed to work on the movie by Arad first before Favreau and that Howard was possibly difficult on set. Those were rumors though.

I don't want to jump on any bandwagons or anything. But Howard's recent comments are very curious. I will also say, I'm less upset about his being recast with these comments. I think its disrespectful for him to say those things about Iron Man, that he hates these special FX movies, when he's playing Jim Rhodes a positive black character from the comics who is being realized in cinematic form, a character who also becomes a superhero. Does that not mean something if Howard wants something significant like Will Smith who makes super hero trash like Hancock?

 

[LostSon88]

He's just being a whiny and bitter b*tch.

He may be in the right in saying that Marvel did him wrong but the way he's taking it is rather pathetic.

He's simply doing everything he can to tear down the sequel...it wont work.

 

[3 Dev Adam]

Here's an idea.

After Tropic Thunder, RDJ can play Tony Stark AND Rhodes.

 

[FaT_tONle]

So it basically was another Arad botch up from the getgo... chalk up another one in the Arad column of comic book movie **** up's....