Robert Downey Jr. Takes High ‘Rhode’ with Iron Man 2 Drama

Posted by Adam Sweeney (adam@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 7, 2008

Everybody and their mother seems to have an opinion about Terrence Howard’s dismissal on Iron Man 2. Now we get to hear what Iron Man himself thinks about a “Rhodey” being replaced.

MTV’s Splash Page spoke to Downey Jr. and asked him what he thought about Don Cheadle’s replacement as Col. James Rhodes. Give credit to Downey Jr. for staying out of the mud that has been tossed back and forth.

“I had nothing to do with that decision. I love Terrence very very much. That’s all I’ll say because I haven’t talked to him yet,” Downey Jr. said. Having said that, Downey Jr. replied, “I’ve always admired Don [Cheadle]. It’s one of those situations where I still don’t quite know what happened or why.

It seems the removal of Howard from the Iron Man franchise has been filled with more drama than the films themselves. But Downey Jr. seems to be in the right frame of mind and realizes that what counts most is the happiness of the fan.

“I think the important thing with the Iron Man franchise is to not do too much too soon and to make sure we don’t piss off the public that put us in the position we’re in. We’ve just got to keep rolling up our sleeves higher and further up the elbow. If we show up and we’re in the right head space and our heart’s in the right spot and we really think about the audience at every turn and we don’t try to stamp our hipness onto anything. It’s very interactive.

Nice, spoken like a man of the people. We’ve decided the 2008 election, could we see a Tony Stark/Jim Rhodes ticket in 2012? Probably not, we’d have to decide who gets the V.P. position, Howard or Cheadle.

What do you think of Robert Downey Jr.’s comments? Who would you rather see as Col. Rhodes, Terrence Howard or Don Cheadle?

Read more articles by Adam Sweeney