Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard in upcoming Iron Man sequel

Don Cheadle will be replacing actor Terrence Howard in Iron Man 2, the upcoming sequel from Marvel Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Howard played Jim Rhodes in Iron Man, Tony Stark’s best friend and soon-to-be metal-framed superhero War Machine. The story says Marvel had no comment about the switch, but hinted that negotiations with Howard fell through over financial and other issues. Marvel had originally wanted to work with Cheadle and decided to take the character in another direction and approached him. Rhodes’ character is expected to play a larger role in the sequel. Justin Theroux, who wrote the comedy Tropic Thunder, is currently penning the screenplay.

Cheadle is currently shooting director Antoine Fuqua’s movie Brooklyn’s Finest, with Richard Gere, Ellen Barkin, Wesley Snipes and Ethan Hawke. Brooklyn’s Finest follows the story of three unconnected Brooklyn cops wind up at the same deadly location after enduring different career paths.

There was no word on if the new Iron Man sequel would affect his upcoming performance in Toussaint, a historical action epic based on the life of Toussaint Louverture, who led a successful slave rebellion in the 18th century which sparked the Haitian Revolution.

Jon Favreau is returning to helm Iron Man 2, and Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow are also expected to return in the upcoming film.