Terrence Howard believes that an angry run-in with a film producer cost him his part in Iron Man 2.
Howard, who played Robert Downey Jr.’s sidekick James “Rhodey” Rhodes in the first Iron Man movie in 2008 but was dropped ahead of 2010’s second film, has claimed in a new interview that he lost the role months after he threatened to punch out a producer’s teeth in a moment of fury at the Venice Film Festival in 2007.
Speaking on the PBD Podcast, Howard recalled an alleged encounter with producer Joel Silver during the promotion for their movie, The Brave One, in which he starred as a New York City detective hunting a killer (played by Jodie Foster).
Howard said he became frustrated after a reporter quizzed him on why he wasn't given the same top billing on the film as Foster, and that he had the same question.
The Hustle & Flow actor said he was later approached by Silver, but he disliked the tone of the conversation so much that he physically threatened the producer.
“Joel Silver came and had a conversation with me, and he's like, ‘The reason your name isn't above the titles is because you're not the star of this thing — it's Jodie. And if you get nominated for an Oscar, it's going to be for Supporting Actor, not Best Actor,’” Howard claimed.
“And I was like, ‘Thank you for telling me that, now I understand. But, you have to remember that I'm a man just like you, and if you ever talk to me in that way again, I'm going to knock your teeth out of your mouth.’”
Howard pointed out that Silver's producing partner on The Brave One just happened to be Susan Downey, the wife of his Iron Man co-star Robert Downey Jr.
“Eight months later, I lose Iron Man,” Howard said. “And I'm sure that all of those things played their part.”
The Independent has contacted representatives for Silver and Downey for comment.
Howard also admitted that his “need to be a man” has cost him many opportunities in his career.
He recalled a conversation he had with Denzel Washington when the actor advised him to change his attitude.
“He told me, ‘Look at your hands, your fists are all balled up,’” Howard said of Washington. “‘All of these producers are trying to open your hand so they can put money in it, but you won't do it; you keep your hands all tight. And you're blowing it.’”
For the second Iron Man film, Howard was replaced by his Crash co-star Don Cheadle.
Entertainment Weekly reports that director Jon Favreau was reportedly unhappy with Howard’s performance in the first film and intended to cut down the role significantly. At the time, Howard called the news that he was being replaced by Cheadle a “surprise of a lifetime.”
Howard is best known for starring as Lucious Lyon in Fox’s TV series Empire, as well as 2004’s Crash and 2005’s Hustle & Flow, for which he was Oscar-nominated for Best Actor.
