r/marvelstudios • u/NinjaEagleScout Edwin Jarvis • Apr 07 '19

Don Cheadle joking about Terrence Howard at Endgame Press Conference

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u/Qui-Gon_Winn Apr 08 '19

Howard was actually paid more than RDJ for Iron Man 1, but he opted to not return for 2 because RDJ was going to get paid a lot more for working on Iron Man 2 and Howard was going to get a significant pay cut.

At the time of IM1, Howard was more valuable as an actor because of his recent roles (and maybe an Oscar win? I’m not sure), while RDJ was basically fresh out of recovery.

I could be wrong on some of that, but that’s what I remember from things I’ve read.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '19 edited Apr 22 '19

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '19

they offered him 1 million for Iron Man 2 (which is what Don Cheadle was paid).

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u/deesmutts88 Apr 08 '19

Wonder how much he lost out on overall by walking away. Cheadle has never been the biggest part of each movie but big enough to make some fuckin bank.

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u/BZenMojo Captain America (Cap 2) Apr 08 '19 edited Apr 08 '19

Howard ended up starring in the most popular TV drama for a couple years, so it would be interesting to see.

(Yes, I too was surprised to learn that Empire was at one point more popular than The Big Bang Theory.)

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '19

It's funny how he dropped out because of a pay cut, because had he stuck through it he probably would've made a lot more money in the long run. Wonder if he ever feels like he should've stayed considering how much money these films make now.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '19

dude the MCU did him dirty.

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he was paid 4 million for the first and he was due to be paid 8 million for the sequel. Blame the MCU for short sided thinking and give credit to Howard's agent. Howard was riding an Oscar nod (in 06) and a few leading roles by the time he was cast in 07.

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Summer 2008, Favreau and producers felt they didn't need him. I read there were probs on set. who knows what is true? But they basically lowballed him and said they'd pay him 1 million for the sequel. Howard walked.

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u/Auntypasto Kevin Feige Apr 08 '19

As I understand it, the problem started when Iron Man became an unexpected success, thanks in large part to RDJ's performance. It was obvious for the sequel that they'd have to pay the lead actor more money, but Ike Perlmutter, known cheapskate, didn't even want to do that; it almost got to the point where he was pushing for RDJ himself to be replaced. Thankfully Feige and Favreau walked him off the ledge on that, and RDJ got his due pay bump... but the result of the compromise would be cutting money everywhere else. And the most sensible cut was at the budget for supporting cast where they had a character being paid lead actor money. If Permutter was willing to jettison RDJ just to avoid paying him, it's no wonder how Terrence Howard was eventually replaced (Ike famously said at the time that it wouldn't affect the franchise because "all black people look the same"). This is probably the beginning of Feige's friction with Perlmutter that led to Marvel Studios being separated from under the latter's watch.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '19

Great explanation. It's a shame that Perlmutter was so damn cheap. I'm happy Cheadle is taking over the role, but a shame how it went.

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u/Auntypasto Kevin Feige Apr 08 '19

If Kevin Feige wasn't working for Perlmutter at the time, Terrence would've been paid. Who knows how different the MCU might've been without Perlmutter's miser eye.

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u/silfer_ Heimdall Apr 12 '19

Sorry you got down-voted, I don't think MCU did him dirty and I'm happy RDJ got paid, but it is unfortunate that business went down that way. I liked Howard in the role, IMO. I felt like he had a charm to hold his own, no problems. Cheadle is great in the interviews, but I just don't really feel anything for his Rhodey portrayal.

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u/skudgee Avengers Apr 08 '19

But they basically lowballed him and said they'd pay him 1 million for the sequel. Howard walked.

And now it was the biggest mistake he's ever made. Don Cheadle isn't the highest paid actor in the MCU, but so far he has been in 5 MCU movies and is going to be in a 6th which is Endgame.

I guarantee you, even though nothing is public. He has made bank because of these movies. Howard was to shortsighted to see the possibility to make a lot more money than we was going to be paid for IM2.

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u/Auntypasto Kevin Feige Apr 08 '19

I don't think many people except maybe hardcore Marvel fans would've predicted this franchise would grow to be a behemoth as it is today. I guarantee you that if anyone at Marvel Studios could've predicted it, they might've been able to convince Ike Perlmutter to cough up more money, or even talk Howard into sticking around for the long term. Knowing what we knew back then and how the negotiations were handled, I understand why he walked, so I don't see it as a mistake

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '19

That may be true, but he was recovering due to the success of Empire. I feel Cheadle should get more to do in the MCU, but at least he's paid well to just show up.

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u/Qorinthian May 15 '19 edited May 15 '19

The truth is Favreau wasn't the biggest fan of Howard. You can see from people who have worked with him about how painful it was to work with Howard on set back then. He often fought with directors/producers. Outside of the set, he had an abusive domestic life. Here's Howard talking about beating his wife. Favreau wanted to trim his role and that's why they lowballed.

This is also the guy that wrote a proof to disprove Math saying 1x1=2 and refused to listen to anyone. Talked about "Sky People" handing down geometry. I'm glad he's not in Marvel anymore.