Tue Oct 14, 2008 — by Josh Wigler

War Machine turns 'Traitor'

Don Cheadle to replace Terrence Howard in 'Iron Man 2'

We know it's hard out here for a pimp, but it might be even harder for War Machine.

The Hollywood Reporter is breaking the news that Terrence Howard will be replaced by Don Cheadle for Marvel Studios' upcoming Iron Man 2. Though there is no official comment on the replacement, it's speculated that negotiations fell through between Howard and Marvel over financial differences, among other reasons.

In Iron Man, there is a scene towards the end where Howard's Jim Rhodes catches a glimpse of Tony's Mark II armor and proclaims to himself, "Next time." At that moment, War Machine junkies across the globe experienced blissful cardiac arrest.

"I would prefer to wait for the third [Iron Man film to become War Machine]," Howard told ComingSoon.net back in April. "I'd prefer to let it grow a little bit and then after the third one, they could go into its own franchise of War Machine later on. I don't want to introduce War Machine too early for my own monetary benefits."

And while War Machine is still set for the sequel, as THR indicates, it won't be Howard behind the mask. Cheadle is certainly a fine actor, and you can hardly ask for a better quality replacement for an actor of Howard's pedigree. Nonetheless, it's disappointing for fans enjoying Marvel's continuity that a casting change has taken place so soon.

Interestingly enough, THR continues to say that Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow are expected to return as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. Well, pretty much everyone expected Howard to return as well. Given Downey Jr.'s knee-jerk emotional reactions, it'll be interesting to see how this one shakes out in light of Howard's departure.

Over at Marvel Comics, War Machine #1 is coming in December and an exclusive prelude story will be going live at Marvel’s Digital Comics Unlimited starting this week. Subscribers to the digital site will have access to the War Machine story from Greg Pak and Leonardo Manco for free.

"Every day, somewhere on the planet, tyrants commit the most horrific atrocities imaginable, secure in the knowledge that the outside world won't raise a finger to stop them…But now War Machine's on the job. And forget the finger—he's raising a couple of ginormous shoulder mounted rocket cannons!" Pak said in a release.
 

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