Despite not originating the role of James Rhodes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Don Cheadle has made the role his own. His portrayal of the hero War Machine is seen for the most part as accurate to the comics, but it's not always so. Like most characters, the script demands some changes, but sometimes an actor will add touches of his own.
There are differences between Cheadle's portrayal and the source material that his character draws from. Cheadle is an excellent actor, with multiple awards including two Golden Globes and an Academy Award nomination. Here are some accuracies and differences between Cheadle's performance as War Machine and the character in the comics.
10 Not Accurate: Marines, Not Air Force
In the comics, James Rhodes was a U.S. Marine, which is where he learned to fly. Specifically, he flew helicopters in Vietnam. According to the sliding timeline in comics, the conflict has changed, but that is where he met Iron Man shortly after his creation.
Tony Stark offered Rhodes a job as his pilot, which after some time, he eventually took. Stark's respect for Rhodey was built upon that first meeting, and over time, it was a genuine friendship that had Stark trust Rhodey to take over as Iron Man.
9 Accurate: Followed Tony Into the Avengers
In the MCU, when Tony Stark left the Avengers following Ultron's attack on Sokovia, his place as the armored Avenger was taken by War Machine. However, we never got to see him in action with this group of Avengers, since the events of Captain America: Civil War split the team apart.
In the comics, James Rhodes was a charter member of the West Coast Avengers. He kept his identity secret from the team, as at this team he was not aware that some of the team knew that Tony Stark was the original Iron Man. Later he would serve the Avengers as War Machine as well.
8 Not Accurate: Closeness to Sam Wilson
In the MCU, Sam Wilson and James Rhodes seem to have a friendly relationship. This is most likely due to their shared military background. They even work together as the airborne Avengers in Wakanda. As some of the heroes are vanishing due to Thanos's snap, Rhodes calls out to Sam.
In the comics, the two are not particularly close. In the comics, they do not share a military background. However, Sam Wilson does speak at his funeral during the Civil War II story. This may be more due to his presence at the time as the premier black hero in the Marvel Universe.
7 Accurate: That Look Between Captain Marvel And War Machine In Endgame
In Avengers: Endgame there's a moment that Captain Marvel and War Machine share a lingering look during the holographic conference call at Avengers Headquarters. A lot of fans noticed it and some wrote it off in the context of the story as Carol Danvers knowing what Rhodey was going to tell Natasha about Clint Barton.
In the comics, it was writer Kelly Sue DeConnick that put the two together. Given that both are former military pilots and share experience as super-heroes, it makes sense. After Rhodey returned from the dead, they rekindled their relationship.
6 Not Accurate: Armor Was Modified By Justin Hammer
In Iron Man 2, Rhodes authorizes Justin Hammer to add a lot of custom armament to the War Machine armor. While he's a bit stoic and intimidating Hammer, he still allows the addition of a lot of inferior weaponry to Tony Stark's armor.
In the comics, Rhodes went to extremes to prevent the secrets of Tony's armor from falling into hands that might use it for less than honorable ends. He trusted a few people to examine the armor while he was Iron Man, and was insistent that it stay in his hands.
5 Accurate: Willing To Defy Authority
It was not immediately apparent in the MCU that Cheadle's Rhodes was willing to defy authority until Avengers: Infinity War. When ordered to arrest Captain America, he defies the Secretary of Defense. In the comics, this attitude is not quite as long in coming.
Shortly after becoming Iron Man, Rhodes is faced with safeguarding Tony's other armor from being seized first by Obidiah Stane. Suddenly, he's faced with keeping it from being claimed by SHIELD. At the same time, he has to stop the Atlantean warlord Krang from taking the armor as well.
4 Not Accurate: Rhodes Stayed In The Military
In the comics, Rhodes takes Tony Stark up on his offer of a job years after leaving the Marines. In the MCU, he retains his active involvement in the military into Iron Man 2, where Cheadle took over the role. It even appears that he keeps at least a close connection through the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
It's possible that after joining the Avengers, Rhodes resigned his military commission. It's also possible that around the time of Iron Man 3, Rhodes' military assignment was adapted to work closely with the President, if not directly for him.
3 Accurate: First Dons The Armor During A Tony Stark Alcohol Episode
In the film Iron Man 2, Rhodes first dons and takes a spare set of Iron Man armor when Tony goes on a drunken and destructive bender at a party. It shows that Rhodey doesn't want the greatest power at the time in the hands of one, fallible human being.
James Rhodes became Iron Man in Iron Man #169 after Tony's alcoholism finally gets the better of him. Rhodes quickly began to forge his role as Iron Man, and this gives Tony Stark enough confidence after beating his demons to offer Rhodes the War Machine armor the next time he needs to quit being Iron Man.
2 Not Accurate: Iron Patriot
While Rhodey did take up the role as Iron Patriot in the comics, it was after that change was revealed in Iron Man 3. It was a case of the comics changing and taking advantage of the popularity of Marvel movies. The legacy of the Iron Patriot is a bit more sinister in the comics.
Norman Osborn took over the Avengers following the Skrull Secret Invasion. Donning Stark's Iron Man armor, he repainted it to blend the Captain America and Iron Man roles traditionally in the Avengers into one identity for himself, the Iron Patriot.
1 Accurate: Probably Tony Stark's Best Friend
Tony Stark has many people that he can call as a friend, but there are probably none as close as James Rhodes. Rhodes knows Stark better than most other people and he's one of the few people that Stark has trusted to be Iron Man.
When Rhodes was killed during the events of Civil War II, it drove an unimaginable wedge between Tony and Captain Marvel. In the MCU, this type of love was first reflected in Captain America: Civil War when Tony blasted Falcon unconscious following Rhodey's crippling fall.