Cheadle Confirmed for Iron Man 2, Downey Jr Confirmed for Avengers

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on October 28, 2008

We’ve been waiting for any definite news about Iron Man 2 ever since we heard the rumor that Don Cheadle might be in as Rhodey for the sequel, leaving Terrence Howard to rent it on DVD with everyone else.

Now, thanks to Marvel themselves, we’ve got confirmation that Cheadle is a go. As a bonus, Marvel has confirmed that Robert Downey, Jr will reprise his role of Tony Stark for 2011’s The Avengers. Of course, we already knew he and Favreau would be back for Iron Man 2, but the news about Cheadle confirms that Downey Jr won’t be donning more blackface to play both Stark and Rhodey. Personally, I’m disappointed.

So it’s a bittersweet day. The rumor about Terrence Howard losing his job as Rhodey was pretty lame to begin with, and now it’s confirmed. Cheadle is an incredible actor, but so is Howard, and he did a strong job as Rhodey – especially considering how little screentime the character got in the first place.

The news about Stark in Avengers is great, but not surprising. We knew from the beginning of the project that the plan was to bring all the characters from the individual films together for a blockbuster. That might not necessarily guarantee an Ant-Man 2 or even an Iron Man 3, but this news might as well be months old. We just never got confirmation until now.

What do you think? Should Marvel have made the switch?


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  • Well I think now that it's confirmed we should just get on board and can the complaining as we'll all be there opening weekend anyway so no sense complaining now.
  • Dave R
    All I can say is PLEASE MARVEL RECONCIDER! Terrence Howard was Rhodey not
    anyone else.
  • I agree with David. Nothing we do or say is going to make a difference. Let's get used to it.

    Hey, sounds like my mentality on the election!
  • Mbessgettios
    Ho ho! Topical humor!

    Anyways, I think that Terrence Howard was perfectly suitable as Rhodes but not essential in any way. I like Don Cheadle, I guess. The continuity switch is inconvenient but it won't kill the franchise. I say, rock on Don Cheadle.
  • leon Kennedy
    even if we have to bite our tongues and agree with there stupid decision...

    i still think we have to voice our opinion... and i for one think this is redicilous on
    Marvels part.

    Howard is a great actor.. and hes a great supporting actor..

    now with ironman2 and cheadle next to robert i feel like im watching two main lead
    characters, cause thats what cheadle has been doing, a ton of lead characters.

    Tis a sad day in film!
  • HempKnight757
    Gay might as well replaced him with Dave Chappelle. In my mind this is a big mistake
  • Mladen
    Lets be realistic here. Studios will only cast big-name (and big money) actors in key roles of their blockbuster features. Not suprised.
  • Aleric
    The studios can cast whoever they want.

    I can choose not to go to the movie and give them my money. If more people agree with me and not go to see Iron Man II then it will bomb like the first Hulk movie. Decisions have consequences, unfortunately Hollywood never learns.
  • Oh come on Aleric Iron Man 2 will never bomb it is a guaranteed success after the first film but if you feel that strongly then I admire that but we've waited too long for some great comic book films so we can't let annoying but not terrible cast decisions ruin our enjoyment.
  • Nish
    To be honest, I feel no outrage over the decision to change as Howard wasn't given enough time to claim Rhodes as his own. I just feel the switch was unecessary and they should have stuck with Howard for the sake of continuity. If it was about money, Howard must have been asking for a hell of a lot if they felt that Cheadle was a cheaper option.
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