Man, you put a microphone in Terrence Howard’s face and he will not stop talking. The loquacious star was in Cannes to promote the upcoming “Winnie” when he was predictably bombarded with questions about “Iron Man” and his unceremonious firing from the role of James Rhodes. However, he genuinely seemed pleased to be addressing the issue in a more positive light.
“I haven’t had a chance yet but I will see ‘Iron Man 2,’ ” he said, before calling the situation a “wonderful split,” noting that replacement Don Cheadle was originally in line to play Rhodes anyhow. “Robert Downey Jr. was born to play that part and it was wonderful that that part has given him the stature that he was supposed to hold before. For me to have recommended him, it means all the more so that I helped someone get to where they are supposed to go. Marvel and I are now talking about doing some other things.”
So, Howard is the one who put Downey’s name in circulation for the role of Tony Stark? Hmm…seems like something a lot of people would want to take credit for, and we find it a stretch that it’s the case. What Howard does seem to imply is that he remains in good graces with the studio because of this home-run of a recommendation and that he may be re-entering the Marvel universe. What “other things” could Howard be talking about?
If we had to wager a guess, we’d go back to early development on “Luke Cage,” which Howard was a part of. Originally the plan was to have Howard star as the villain Diamondback, who sends the hero to prison, only to incur his wrath after a breakout. Howard stayed onboard as the lead changed from Jamie Foxx to Tyrese Gibson, development moving from Malcolm Lee to John Singleton, and it was only this month when it seems the project has re-ignited interest in Marvel offices. Could Howard be talking about returning to develop a film about Marvel’s resident hero-for-hire? Or is Howard just talking sideways about discussions that took place in as far back as 2005? You’ll have to decide that one yourself until more info surfaces.
For diversity’s sake, we’re definitely rooting for Marvel’s more, ahem, culturally diverse characters to make it to the screen, given that the likely Avengers lineup doesn’t have a lot of spots for color — we’d imagine the now-elderly Samuel L. Jackson will be calling shots from the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier or something. Making “Luke Cage” the first big-screen black Marvel superhero would be questionable, as the first white ones were gods, scientists and billionaires, while Cage is a prison escapee from the ‘hood. May we suggest “Black Panther” instead?
