Summary

• Terrence Howard was initially intended to continue playing James Rhodes/War Machine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but was replaced by Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2.
• Howard's departure from the role was partly due to a significant decrease in pay, which created tension between him and Robert Downey Jr.
• Don Cheadle's portrayal of James Rhodes/War Machine has been well-received and he has become a prominent character in the MCU, appearing in multiple movies and upcoming projects.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe was established in 2008 with the release of Iron Man, which introduced numerous mainstays, including Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts, Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, Clark Gregg's Phil Coulson, and Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan. It also featured Terrence Howard as James "Rhodey" Rhodes. However, Terrence Howard's time as War Machine was short-lived, being replaced by Don Cheadle in the 2010 sequel, Iron Man 2.

The initial intention was certainly for Howard to play Rhodes beyond Iron Man. He was an established actor with credits like Crash, Ray, and Hustle & Flow, the latter of which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He was also the highest-paid star in the MCU's inaugural film, earning $3.5 million, compared to Downey's $500,000 salary. Howard's Iron Man line "next time, baby" also implied there were plans for his Rhodes to become War Machine later in the franchise. However, Howard left the role only a few months after Iron Man's release, and this ended up changing the trajectory for him and Don Cheadle forever.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on April 8, 2024: After over fifteen years in the franchise, War Machine is finally getting his own film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Armor Wars will act as the character's first solo project and will be one of the last films in Phase 6 before Avengers: Secret Wars finally brings the Multiverse Saga to a close. However, James Rhodes has had an unusual journey in the MCU, including an early recast that changed the character's entire trajectory.

Why Did Terrence Howard Leave Marvel's Iron Man?

• James Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, John Byrne, Glynis Wein, and Irving Watanabe.

Robert Downey Jr.'s salary was increased dramatically for Iron Man 2, growing to a rumored $10 million, plus a cut of back-end profits. That, in turn, led Marvel Studios to drastically slash Howard's pay to what the actor said was just $40,000 per film. That didn't sit well with Howard, who claimed to have helped Downey land the role, going so far as to take a $1 million pay reduction for Iron Man if the studio would hire Downey. However, Marvel insists Howard played no part in Downey's casting. Additionally, Howard told NPR in 2008 that "good-faith negotiations" weren't always held up at Marvel.

Amid Howard's departure, rumors swirled the actor was difficult on the set of Iron Man. Entertainment Weekly cited one source who claimed director Jon Favreau and the film's producers weren't happy with Terrence Howard's performance, forcing them to edit or reshoot scenes. Due to that, the story goes, when Favreau and writer Justin Theroux began planning Iron Man 2, they reduced Howard's role. That smaller part in the sequel led Marvel to call the agents for Terrence Howard back to the negotiation table.

Terrence Howard's Iron Man Drama Involved Robert Downey Jr.

• In Secret Invasion, James Rhodes is hinted at having been replaced by a Skrull sometime shortly after the events of Captain America: Civil War.

Seldom soft-spoken, Terrence Howard has addressed the circumstances of the Iron Man Rhodes actor change on multiple occasions, perhaps most notably during a 2013 appearance on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, in which he placed the blame on Downey:

"It turns out that the person that I helped become Iron Man, when it was time to re-up for the second one took the money that was supposed to go to me and pushed me out. We did a three-picture deal," he continued. "You did the deal ahead of time. A certain amount for the first one. For the second, a certain amount. For the third … they came to me for the second one and said, 'We will pay you one-eighth of what we contractually had for you, because we think the second one will be successful with or without you.' And I called my friend that I helped get the first job, and he didn't call me back for three months."

Howard elaborated on his attempts to reach Downey in a 2015 Rolling Stone profile, saying he called him multiple times but never heard from him: "And guess who got the millions I was supposed to get? He got the whole franchise, so I've actually given him $100 million, which ends up being a $100 million loss for me from me trying to look after somebody, but, you know, to this day I would do the same thing. It's just my nature."

Don Cheadle Stepped Up As War Machine

• Don Cheadle has portrayed James Rhodes in live-action nine times, most recently appearing in Secret Invasion.

The James Rhodes actor change saw Don Cheadle portray Rhodey in a somewhat different manner. He was somewhat "looser," with Terrence Howard's Rhodes being notably more uptight. This initial characterization contrasted well with Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, but starting with the next adventures of Iron Man, Rhodey became more prominent than ever. Following his debut as Rhodey in Iron Man 2, Cheadle reprised his role as the War Machine actor in six MCU movies. That's in addition to his 2021 cameo in the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, his contribution to episodes of the animated series What If?, as well as a significant role in Secret Invasion and the upcoming film Armor Wars. Cheadle confirmed in November 2022 that Armor Wars will be a "rebirth" for Rhodey and explore who he is "outside of the relationship with these people we've already seen" and who Rhodey is when he's isolated from others.

Some fans found issue with Rhodey's characterization in the Secret Invasion TV series, and it was simply one of many problems with the show overall. Secret Invasion was lambasted by many for its writing and characters, the latter of whom rarely made decisions that seemed logical. This reached a fever pitch with Iron Man's Rhodey, who was revealed to be a Skrull in the series. The finale had the real James Rhodes saved after being abducted and replaced for an unknown amount of time. In fact, he's now confirmed to have been replaced in this manner since at least the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.

When it comes to James Rhodes, Marvel Studios has a lot to redeem about the character. Many fans hope that the aforementioned Armor Wars will help to make the hero shine once more, all the while putting a cap on the legacy of the Iron Man movies. This would make sense, as he's essentially the last true heroic link to the now-deceased Tony Stark. While War Machine is definitely an iconic hero in his own right, he got his start fighting alongside the original MCU hero. That was especially the case for the first War Machine actor, who went on to see success in other venues.

What Has Terrence Howard Done Since Iron Man?

• Terrence Howard and Don Cheadle will star together in the new Peacock series Friday Night: The Million Dollar Heist.

While he's no longer affiliated with Marvel Studios or the Iron Man franchise, original War Machine actor Terrence Howard has seen tremendous success elsewhere. This is particularly the case on television, where his career has continued to thrive. He worked on movies like The Princess and the Frog, Red Tails, and St. Vincent, as well as TV series like Law & Order: LA, Empire, and Wayward Pines. In the case of Empire, the series was one of the biggest television shows running on Fox at the time of its release. This made Terrence Howard and co-star Taraji P. Henson into major names, even if the former was no longer part of the cast of Iron Man movies.

More recently, Howard has doubled down on his plans to retire from acting. He previously stated he was going to do so back in 2019 but went on to star in a number of projects. In December 2022, Howard noted, "I've gotten to the point where now I've given the very best that I have as an actor. Now I'm enjoying watching other new talent come around, and I don't want to do an impersonation of myself." Thus, it appears that Terrence Howard is finally stepping away from the camera, bringing his impressive acting career to a close.

How Terrence Howard Can Still Return As War Machine

• Avengers: Secret Wars is set to hit theaters on May 7, 2027.

Although fans generally prefer Don Cheadle's version of the character, Terrence Howard can still reprise his version of James "Rhodey" Rhodes in an upcoming MCU project. Avengers: Secret Wars will end the Multiverse Saga with a bang, introducing all kinds of other heroes from alternate dimensions. The film is sure to be filled with all kinds of references to previous Marvel films, both in the MCU and before the MCU. It would make perfect sense for Secret Wars to introduce a variant of Rhodey from the multiverse who happens to be played by Terrence Howard.

By the time Secret Wars comes out, it will have been seventeen years since Rhodey's recasting in 2010, giving all parties plenty of time to get over any remaining hard feelings. A simple cameo would be a terrific way to let bygones be bygones, both mending old wounds and giving fans an epic reference to the very first MCU film. While any future team-ups between Howard and Marvel Studios may seem unlikely, nothing is ever impossible.