Apr 7 2009 First Shots of Don Cheadle Replacing Terrence Howard
SpoilerTV (via Coming Soon) has posted the first shots from the set of Iron Man 2, including Robert Downey Jr. in man-heels, Gwyneth Paltrow in a car, and the above look at Don Cheadle as Rhodey. I was a little nervous about the casting switch being awkward, but now that I've seen how well Cheadle is replicating Rhodey's classic "casual but mystified by cell phones" look, no more worries. He's got it.
Nov 3 2008 More on the Case of Terrence Howard v. Marvel
Entertainment Weekly has another update to the ongoing debate on why Terrence Howard was cut out of Iron Man 2 (he wouldn't take a pay cut and wasn't that good at acting, apparently):
Hollywood insiders believe the exit stems from Terrence Howard's difficult behavior on the set of Iron Man. But those with intimate knowledge of the situation suggest a far more dramatic backstory: Howard was the first actor signed to the film and, on top of that, was the highest-paid. That's right: more than Gwyneth Paltrow. More than Jeff Bridges. More than Robert Downey Jr. And once the project fully came together, it was too late to renegotiate his deal. It didn't help that, according to one source, Favreau and his producers were ultimately unhappy with Howard's performance, and spent a lot of time cutting and reshooting his scenes. (Favreau could not be reached for comment, while Howard's publicist says: ''Terrence had a tremendous experience working on Iron Man.'')As such, when Favreau and screenwriter Justin Theroux went to map out the sequel they found themselves minimizing Howard's story line. Once Marvel learned that Favreau was thinking of curtailing the role, the studio went to the actor's agents with a new and drastically reduced offer — a number that's similar to what supporting cast members were paid for the first movie. The agents, according to sources, were so taken aback by this new figure — estimated at somewhere between a 50 and 80 percent pay cut — that they questioned it. Why did they blanch? Multiple sources say that Marvel execs never told Howard's reps that they had issues with the star's on-set conduct. (Marvel would not comment for this story.)
So much drama. Who's at fault here? Should Terrence Howard have taken less pay and done a better job acting? Should Marvel have at least told him before they recast his role? If I'm having a party, should I invite them both and risk them getting into an awkward argument when Marvel shows up with Don Cheadle? Is it possible Marvel found out that Terrence Howard is a skeleton wearing a magical flesh suit to blend in with the general population until he can ready his skeleton army? These are the questions we must answer before Iron Man 2 comes out.
Oct 30 2008 'Hotel for Dogs' Trailer!
Not many family movies will encourage approaching and capturing wild dogs and investigating the sort of dingy, vacant urban buildings that typically house drug dens and the homeless. Hotel for Dogs isn't like many family movies though. It's the first and only film to cater to children who dream of living a life of servitude for animals: installing shoe dispensing machines for dogs, inventing ball-throwing devices for dogs, giving dogs superfluous spa treatments, and otherwise seeing to every whim a dog may or may not have.
What I find strange is that Don Cheadle is in a supporting role but doesn't seem to show up anywhere in the trailer. Come on, kids love Hotel Rwanda. They're going to want to know he's in this.
Oct 29 2008 Misguided Petition Hopes to Save Terrence Howard's 'Iron Man 2' Role
Some people who care an enormous amount about Iron Man acting continuity have started a petition to get Terrence Howard back the role he lost to Don Cheadle. Here it is, in its entirety:
Terrence Howard will need to be in Iron Man 2, or else Continuity will destroy the entire Franchise. Show your support, and sign!
Two days later, this section was added for clarification:
Its obvious. You don't replace major characters in summer block buster movies. Just plain stupid
Well, that's a solid, well-written argument, except for that Dark Knight did replace a major character, and some would consider that movie both a blockbuster and not just plain stupid. Is that all you've got? Surely there must be more motivation for convincing Marvel to let Howard tkeep the role. Let's take a look at the webpage someone seriously made, HowardNotCheadle.com (via Latino Review):
Marvel is under the impression that just any person can play Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes. They are sadly mistaken.Marvel asked Terrence Howard to be Rhodey. He signed on to play Rhodey. Terrence Howard became Rhodey.
We were under the impression that when you signed a contract with someone, it was their word.
Yeah! I'm just a guy on the internet saying things, but what about that contract I've never read! We had your word, I assumed!
Yeesh. It's time to accept that there's probably a legitimate reason Terrence Howard was dropped from the film (like how he says crazy things), and that Don Cheadle is now Rhodey. Like all other casting changes, you'll probably eventually be OK with it. Just think how we once thought Michael Keaton was the definitive Batman, but now when you hear "Dark Knight", you just think Val Kilmer. You'll get used to it.
Oct 29 2008 RDJ Officially Signed to Avenge Things
Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle have officially signed on to Iron Man 3 and The Avengers, the Marvel Studios project that will unite several of its superhero properties:
In addition to starring in "Iron Man 2," Downey has agreed to return as billionaire Tony Stark and his crime-fighting alter ego in "The Avengers" and a third "Iron Man" installment, guaranteeing the thesp a superhero-sized payday and his own ongoing franchise as part of a four-picture deal with the comicbook company.Company confirmed that Don Cheadle will replace Terrence Howard as Col. James Rhodes in the "Iron Man" sequels. Cheadle will also appear in "The Avengers."
This should finally shoot down all those rumors that Marvel was going to cast big-name actors in several superhero film franchises, allude to their eventual merging with cross-over characters and mention of forming the Avengers team, then suddenly re-cast all the parts with actors from community theaters and failed CW shows. Phew!
Downey Jr. extends Marvel deal [Variety]
Oct 14 2008 Cheadle Supplants Howard in 'Iron Man 2'
Ut oh, Iron Maniacs, sounds like there's going to be some casting holes in the Iron Man sequel! According to the Hollywood Reporter, Terrance Howard--who played JIm Rhodes, the man who would later become War Machine--has been replaced by Don Cheadle:
Don Cheadle is stepping in to replace Terrence Howard in "Iron Man 2," Marvel Studios' sequel to its summer blockbuster.Marvel had no comment, but sources close to the deal said negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons. Marvel, which had wanted to work with Cheadle, then decided to take the role in another direction and approached the actor, who is shooting Antoine Fuqua's "Brooklyn's Finest" with Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke.
What's the deal, Marvel? You think all respected black actors are the same? You can just trade them around like your Pokeyman cards and no one will notice or care? Granted, my parents still maintain that Denzel Washington is in the Ocean's movies, but still, not cool. It will take me at least one to two scenes to get over this jarring switch--and that's one to two more than it took to get over the Holmes-to-Gyllenhaal switch in The Dark Knight.
Jun 12 2008 'Traitor' Poster Betrayed Me
In Traitor, Guy Pearce plays a federal investigator on an international conspiracy case, and all the clues lead to the shocking conclusion that U.S. Special Operations Officer Don Cheadle is a... traitor! Though, reportedly, Pearce's method of investigation is based entirely on making subtle markings on the milk carton to measure if Cheadle was still using the U.S.'s milk in his cereal.
'Traitor' Poster Premiere [Cinematical]
Sep 11 2007 Don Cheadle Loves Anything With 'Hotel' in Title
Don Cheadle garnered much praise for his dramatic role in Hotel Rwanda as a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsis refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia. Now, in a Cuba Gooding Jr-style move, the actor will try to ruin all that by making a hotel-centric kids movie about dogs, Hotel for Dogs:
Story revolves around two orphaned teenagers who hide dozens of stray dogs in an abandoned hotel. Cheadle will play a beleaguered social worker who keeps the kids out of trouble.
Following shooting for Hotel for Dogs, Cheadle announced he will be returning to his hotel, where he'll watch Hotel Rwanda, listen to Hotel California, and play Monopoly, where he hopes to fully upgrade his properties.
Cheadle checks in to 'Hotel for Dogs' [Variety]
Jul 11 2007 Cheadle and Pearce Star in Political Thriller from...Steve Martin?
"Naw, fool. Hold the gun sideways, like I done taughtchoo. And cut that nasty ass hair."
Yep, you read that headline correct - I mean, I think you did, having no prior knowledge of your dyslexia... Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce are set to star in Traitor, a thriller about an undercover CIA agent (Cheadle) who infiltrates a terrorist cell but in the process may have become a terrorist himself. Pearce plays an FBI agent investigating him.
The film will be written and directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff, and is based on an original story by Steve Martin. Yes, that Steve Martin.
[Producers]Hoberman and Lieberman had been developing the project since early 2002, when Martin approached the duo on the set of "Bringing Down the House," which they were producing. Martin told them to meet him in his trailer because the actor had a thriller he wanted to pitch. Hoberman and Lieberman thought Martin was joking and didn't show up. Martin approached them the next day and asked why they didn't meet him.
Bringing Down the House co-star Queen Latifah reportedly campaigned hard for a role in which her character would teach Pearce how to "act street" to help him infiltrate the terrorist cell, and in the process, learn a little about love. Her idea was vetoed and she spent the rest of the afternoon eating cake batter.
Jul 6 2007 Angry Black Woman Directs Petey Greene Movie
"When white people stir their tea they be all like...."
Kasi Lemmons, whom you may remember from such roles as "Angry Black Woman" (seriously, it's the first listing on her IMDB page), directed a biopic about D.C. radio personality Petey Greene starring Don Cheadle. Check out the trailer at Apple.com.
Don Cheadle is one of the best actors around, and this one looks like it has potential. On another note, can you imagine a white guy named "Petey"? A white guy named Petey reminds me of the neighbor kid with Down Syndrome who wears a helmet and jacks off in the front yard. And yet somehow a black dude named Petey sounds like a smooth talking brother who drives a convertible. (sigh)
