Remember how Iron Man ended? Jim Rhodes sets us up for the sequel with these famous last words

The more I read about this Iron Man 2 casting dilemma, the harder I find it to believe that Marvel Studios will make the switch between Terrence Howard and Don Cheadle in the role of Col Jim Rhodes. I’m not sure who is all involved or even in the know, but if it turn out that Terrence Howard is part of this information/disinformation campaign then maybe we should still boycott the movie. I’m finding the web filling up with fans willing to go to the mat for this guy Terrence, and why not?  Terrence Howard is Jim Rhodes. he took possession of the role and made it his.

The movie makers did their job and left us hanging for part two. So enough with the games. I hope Marvel wises up fast enough to realize they have a time bomb on their hands. The contracts need to be finalized one way or the other and on with production. But for now everyone who reads this need to sign the petition and pass the work on that we the fans wouldn’t even watch Iron Man 2 without Terrence Howard even if it was free theater entry.

As the old saying goes, like minds think alike. When I first got the idea that I would not see Iron Man 2 without the return of Terrence Howard, I though I was the only one who felt that there may be an injustice taking place in the casting of the Iron Man sequel. Well in my searches for more news on the replacement of Howard by Don Cheadle I came across a petition for the retention of Terrence Howard in the role of Col Jim Rhodes.

Of course I immediately signed the petition and have placed a link throughout this blog and on the front page of this site. I get the impression from reading the movie inustry news that the replacement of Howard by Cheadle may not be a completely done deal. Who knows what methods of negotiation may be taking place behind closed doors. This might even be a little fire lit under Howard’s butt to complete a contract. And then again there is the posibility that this may all be an attention getting publicity ploy. But time will tell. In the meantime go the petition and let Marvel know how you feel about the actor switch. And commit not to see Iron Man 2 without the continuity of Terrence Howard in the role of Col Jim Rhodes.

I recently got mad. I occasionally get mad and I carry out my own little boycotts. I’m in my eleventh year of boycotting a particular Japanese restaurant here in Las Vegas. I talk bad about them every change I get. When I first learned about the change of talent of the role of Jim Rhodes in the upcoming Iron Man sequel and the treatment of Terrence Howard, I immediately decided that this would be one movie I would have to avoid. Then I decided that I would discourage those in my spheres of influence not to see the flick either. Then I decide to see how many people on the planet I could persuade to skip this release and thus this blog was born.

I am a fan. Not necessarily an Iron Man fan. I am a movie fan. I go out of my way to watch as many movies in the theaters as I can. No DVDs for me (if I can help it).

I am a fan of Terrence Howard as well as Don Cheadle. But what is at issue here is continuity. Unless someone dies, I don’t accept income negotiations as a reason to replace a significant actor in a sequel. I watch sequels to continue the experience. I want the continue the emotional sensations experienced in film number one. I pay to see in subsequent movies whatever that magic was in the first film. I want more and I know that replacement of a strong supporting character is going to cost me that something that I keep coming back for.  It’s like coming home to find someone else in your brother or sister’s chair at the dining table or on the couch, something just isn’t right.

I remember there was a contract issue between the makers of Spiderman and Tobey Maguire. The word on the street was that Jake Cyllenhaal would replace Maguire.  In terms of box office receipts Spider Man 2 was a hit grossing over $783 million worldwide, and won the Academy Award for visual affects. I enjoyed the film but can tell you now that I would have never paid to see a replacement Spiderman.

Spider Man 3 would have never been the highest grossing film for U.S. box office revenue if Spidey was any other than Tobey Maguire.

The actual reason or reasons for replacing Howard with Cheadle in the role of Jim Rhodes may not ever be known. But, I have to beleive that some kind of agreement could have been reached by a motivated Marval Sudios. I was amazed when I heard the surprise experienced by Terrence Howard during a NPR interview. The fact that Terrence learned about this break in his contract from The Hollywood Reporter just adds insult to the injury. The bottom line here is that it is the fan who takes it in the shorts on this one. I for one do not plan to see an Iron Man 2 movie that does not cast the role of Jim Rhodes wtih the already established personality of Terrence Howard.