Terence Howards Claims Ignorance Over Firing
Terence Howard was interviewed on NPR recently and he addressed, for the first time, his removal from Iron Man 2.
"It was the surprise of a lifetime," he said. "There was no explanation. [The contract] just…up and vanished. I read something in the trades implicating that it was about money or something, but apparently the contracts that we write and sign aren’t worth the paper that they’re printed on, sometimes. Promises aren’t kept, and good faith negotiations aren’t always held up."
Maybe it’s something personal. Maybe it’s something professional. Or maybe we’ll never know but it sounds pretty darn final to us.
Oh, I bet there's a story here…
I think the story is his agents tried to play hard ball and lost and now it's face saving time.
I'm surprised that his agents would have had to negotiate at all; wouldn't the producers have signed the cast for a multi-picture deal, as per usual in Hollywood these days? The impression I get from listening to the Howard interview, and it's clear from his tone that he's confused and bitter about the situation, that Marvel Studios cut him loose.
From the reports I've seen, it was a holding deal…an option to be back, but not an actual commitment. I assume that's the cheaper way to go, espsecialy as this was Marvel's first movie and an unknown property.They went thru the same negotiations with Downy Jr., Paltrow, and Faverou
It's a shame since Howard was good in the role of Rhodey. I'm going to agree with Scavenger here, unless something else comes out to shed some light on the situation.
Just once I'd like to see an agent get really publicly fired after a fubar like this. There have got to be situations where actors lost films they really wanted when an agent get too greedy and overstepped his responsibilities. It's possible this is one of those situations.It'd be kind of funny if after that they changed their minds, offered it to Howard and had to drop Don Cheadle. One way or another, somebody's getting a check for doing nothing and a big "Special thanks to" in the closing credits.
"Just once I'd like to see an agent get really publicly fired after a fubar like this."Vinnie, It's not a 'fubar.' This type of thing is MINOR in the world of the ever powerful agent. These guys (and to be fair there are exceptions) for the most part are just plain DICKS. How much so? Here's an example, I was being courted by a agency and was being walked out after the meetings by one of the agents. I stopped to look at a painting on the wall. "Like it?" I was asked by the agent. "Yeah, it's nice. Almost as nice as the original." I said. The agent said, "It is the original." "No. The original is hanging at M.O.M.A." I said The agent got real testy, REAL FAST. I guess he forgot or just no longer cared that his agency was trying to sign me because he said, rather loudly- "This is THE original and I never heard of any collector named Moma!" "M.O.M.A stands for the Museum Of Modern Art." I told him. Vinnie, the look on this guys face was one I had never seen before. I realized later that it was the look of a man who thought he knew everything but realized he didn't-and was NOT happy about it. We reached the elevator and the 'walk me downstairs" became a walk to the elevator. He did not even wait until the car came he simply said a rushed "Goodbye'" turned and walked away.Like I said, DICKS.
There have got to be situations where actors lost films they really wanted when an agent get too greedy and overstepped his responsibilities.Sigourney Weaver fired her agent after her agent turned down The Piano. Weaver didn't even know that the script had been sent, and Holly Hunter went on to win an Academy Award for the role.
It might be solely that Cheadle is a bigger name. Producers pull that stunt all too often.
He's not that much bigger a name, and it's not really the sort of switch made mid-series unless there's something hiding– and I agree with Allyn, there should be a multi-film deal in place.
I'm assuming there WAS such a deal, and somebody (presumably the agent, with or without Howard's wishes we'll likely never know) decided to push for more money anyway. It's fairly standard practice, especially if the first film was a big hit, and brother, was it. Marvel decided Howard wasn't worth the tsuris, and cut him loose, much to his dismay.
I think Cheadle is better known because of the Ocean's franchise. Because of the Ocean's franchise, perhaps the producers thought Cheadle would be a better choice for white audiences. (And note I am not speaking against Howard here.)In any case, I think it is folly to always assume the worst or that there was a devious hidden agenda behind every controversial move in Hollywood. Our time could be better spent reading a good book or listening to good music or even spending time helping those who need assistance.
Like I mentioned to Allyn, there was options, but not firm multi-pictures in the contract for 1. They went thru negotiations for everyone else a while ago.