"I just wanted what was in my contract"— Terrence Howard opens up about the circumstances that led to his departure from the Marvel franchise

Terrence Howard, who played Colonel James Rhodes in the first Iron Man film, has spoken out about his exit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While acknowledging the franchise's success, Howard expressed his disappointment with how things unfolded behind the scenes.

"I was doing Iron Man, out of nowhere that gets taken away. We did a three picture deal with Marvel. $4.5 million for the first one, $7.5-8 million for the second one, $12 million for the third. We signed it. They come back to me the week that my mother died...They said we want Terrence but we want him to come back for $1 million instead of the $8 million that we had agreed to. I just wanted what was in my contract."

Howard claims he had a three-picture deal with Marvel Studios, but alleges the studio approached him after the first film's massive box office success with a significantly reduced offer for the sequel.

Don Cheadle ultimately took over the role of James Rhodes/War Machine for the remaining Iron Man films and subsequent MCU appearances.

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Terrence Howard reveals the personal and professional struggles behind his Marvel exit

Terrence Howard, who originally portrayed Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes in Iron Man, was replaced by Don Cheadle in subsequent films, a decision surrounded by controversy and speculation.

Howard recounted how, amid contract negotiations with Marvel, he faced a smear campaign orchestrated by an ex-partner, whom he claims blackmailed him using personal recordings. Howard claimed that his ex-partner accused him of domestic abuse and provided manipulated evidence to support these claims.

Referring to the media, Terrence Howard stated that “they had an agenda,” including a damaging Rolling Stone article. He released a video to counter the accusations, showing that the incriminating photos were self-taken by his ex-partner and not documented by police or medical professionals.

Terrence Howard explained that his ex-partner gained access to 15 years of his personal recordings, including intimate moments and conversations with his dying mother.

"When we met, I was studying to be a Jehovah’s Witness... So, we got engaged, and I bring her to my home in Philly," Howard said.

He added that he allowed her to transfer his Dictaphone recordings to a computer. Later, when he attempted to end the relationship, she allegedly used these recordings to blackmail him, particularly targeting a recording of his mother's final words, which he desperately wanted to keep.

This personal crisis allegedly coincided with Marvel's renegotiation of his contract. Initially signed for a three-picture deal with escalating salaries, Marvel's offer was drastically reduced following his mother's death.

"We did a three-picture deal with Marvel... They come back to me the week that my mother dies... and they said, yeah, we want Terrence, but we want to come back for a million dollars instead of the eight million that we had agreed to," Howard recounted.

Terrence Howard's agent's emotional reaction to this reduction led to a severed relationship with Marvel, and they promptly cast Don Cheadle in his place. Howard felt particularly betrayed by Robert Downey Jr., whom he had championed for the role of Tony Stark.

Howard recounted how he persuaded the producer to let Downey audition by reallocating part of his own salary to cover Downey's bond. Despite his efforts and support, when Howard reached out to Downey during his crisis, his calls went unanswered.

"I called him 27 times... I didn't hear from him until three years later," Howard said.

While financial disputes were cited publicly, his recent disclosures reveal a deeper narrative involving betrayal and personal loss. Despite these setbacks, Howard has continued to thrive in his career, notably with his success in the television series Empire.

Terrence Howard, who was born in 1969, has been playing pivotal characters since the mid-2000s. He even managed to get an Academy Award nomination for his acting in Hustle & Flow. The actor's portfolio includes a wide range of movies, such as Hustle & Flow, Iron Man, Ray, and Crash. He is also a musician who released his first album in 2008 as well.

Strangely, in 2022, Terrance Howard revealed that he intended to quit acting. He will next be seen in the film The Movers and the miniseries Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.