Ironman 2 (Favreau, 2010)

[fizz]

I don't know if this is good news or not. I really liked Terrence Howard, but I guess Cheadle is a bigger name:

Don Cheadle joins 'Iron Man 2'

He'll replace Terrence Howard in Marvel Studios' sequel

By Borys Kit

Oct 14, 2008, 01:00 AM ET

Don Cheadle is stepping in to replace Terrence Howard in "Iron Man 2," Marvel Studios' sequel to its summer blockbuster.

In the movie, Howard played Jim Rhodes, Tony Stark/Iron Man's best friend and future armor-clad hero War Machine. One scene featured Howard looking at a silver suit of armor and saying "Next time," a line that caused great delight for fans.

But there will be no next time for Howard.

Marvel had no comment, but sources close to the deal said negotiations with Howard fell through over financial differences, among other reasons. Marvel, which had wanted to work with Cheadle, then decided to take the role in another direction and approached the actor, who is shooting Antoine Fuqua's "Brooklyn's Finest" with Richard Gere and Ethan Hawke.

Rhodes is expected to play a larger part in the sequel, which is rumored to go beyond high-tech villains. Justin Theroux is writing the screenplay.

Jon Favreau is returning as director, and Robert Downey Jr. is expected back as billionaire industrialist Stark/Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow also is expected to be back as Stark's assistant, Pepper Potts.

Cheadle, repped by UTA, most recently starred in "Traitor," a thriller on which he was also a producer. He will next be seen in DreamWorks' "Hotel for Dogs."

[ak]

Cheadle is a fine actor; so is Howard, only better-looking. This is a loss.

[shariqq]

Oh darn, Howard would've been fine - he was good in the first. I'm not too fond of Cheadle.

[ozzylogic]

Ah damn, but Cheadle rocks too. I bet they're referring to the Mandarin in 'beyond high-tech villains'.

[shariqq]

Terrence Howard on the recasting:
"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."

[fizz]

Super skank star to play Super skank superhero.

Scarlett Johansson is joining the superhero set.

Her rep confirms that the actress has signed on to play Black Widow in the Iron Man sequel opposite Robert Downey Jr. The deal was signed this afternoon.

"Scarlett is thrilled to be a part of Iron Man," her rep, Marcel Pariseau, tells me.

Meanwhile, after months of negotiations...

The Wrestler's comeback kid, Mickey Rourke, has finally sealed a deal to play villain Whiplash, according to Variety.

Rourke's team had reportedly held out for more money after Marvel's initial offer was just $250,000.

Scheduled for a May 2010 release, part two of the franchise will also include Gwyneth Paltrow returning as Pepper Potts, along with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Don Cheadle playing Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes.

[ozzylogic]

Black Widow is Russian, not a fat lipped skank with a throaty voice and 0 acting skills. Why oh why?

[fizz]

The only actress who could have done the role any justice is...Milla Jovovich.

[shariqq]

I was hoping Emily Blunt would get cast.

[ayaa1977]

Listen, Johansson is not one of my favorite actress, not by far, and I don't even think that she is that beautiful. That being said, I do think that she is harshly treated as a bad actress. Will she ever when an Oscar? Not in a million years, but she is not as bad as you guys say. She has her moments. For instant, I did think she was ok in "The Other Boleyn Girl" which was not a very good movie otherwise, also in "The Prestige" she was not bad. Although she was the worst thing about "Match Point" which was a very good Woody Allen comeback. However, I think Emily Blunt is a kickass, a superior actress to ms. Scarlet Johansson, and would have done a better job. Anyway, it is not like she is asked to be the female Joker, she will have 5-10 over the top scenes, whether she played the role or someone else did. How would I know? Two names: "Tim Roth" and "Jeff Bridges". Ring a bill??

[ak]

Let's not get serious over a movie called Ironman, thank you!

[animatedude]

argh...all these big superhero movies with A-list stars.Zzzzzz

[ozzylogic]

She didn't do much in Prestige btw.

[ayaa1977]

She didn't do much in Prestige btw.

All what I am saying is some actors and actresses are only expected to deliver the part and not doing much else. Scarlet Johansson is on of those. Sometimes she tries too hard to look good and that backfires, but often times she is herself, which make her ok to me. My point, she doesn't make me scream at her when she appears on the screen like some other actresses, Dennies Richards come to my mind, and that horrible Carmen Electra too.

[shariqq]

and that horrible Carmen Electra too.

Don't call her horrible.