Howard's 'Crash' costar Don Cheadle replaced him in the 'Iron Man' sequel
Credit: PBD Podcast/Youtube
NEED TO KNOW
- Terrence Howard recounted an incident in which he said he threatened to punch producer Joel Silver’s teeth out
- Appearing on the PBD Podcast, Howard said he believes the interaction led to his firing from Iron Man 2
- Howard says the incident took place while he and Silver were promoting their film The Brave One
Terrence Howard recounted an incident in which he claims to have threatened to punch a Hollywood producer's teeth out — and explained why he thinks it cost him his role in Iron Man 2.
In an appearance on the PBD Podcast, Howard, 56, said that the interaction with producer Joel Silver took place at the 2007 Venice Film Festival as they were promoting their movie The Brave One, in which Howard starred opposite Jodie Foster. During an interview, Howard says that he was asked by a reporter why he wasn't given the same top billing on the film as Foster, and that he had the same question.
When Howard's frustration reached Silver, 73, the actor recalls that the conversation did not go well.
"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 said. "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.' "
Susan Downey, who is married to Howard's Iron Man costar Robert Downey Jr., co-produced The Brave One along with Silver.
"Eight months later, I lose Iron Man," Howard said on the PBD Podcast. "And I'm sure that all of those things played their part."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett
Howard was originally the first actor cast in Jon Favreau's 2008 Iron Man, according to Entertainment Weekly. He played Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man's sidekick James "Rhodey" Rhodes, and was replaced by his Crash costar Don Cheadle in the second film in 2010.
Favreau, 59, was reportedly unhappy with Howard's performance in the first film and intended to significantly cut down the role, which would mean a pay cut for Howard, according to EW. In a 2008 NPR interview, Howard called the news that Cheadle would replace him the "surprise of a lifetime."
The actor, who went on to star in Fox's Empire, cited his "aggression" and a "need to be a man" as reasons for why he lost the role, and potentially others, in his PBD interview.
Later in the interview, he referenced a conversation with Denzel Washington. "He told me, 'Look at your hands, your fists are all balled up,'" Howard said of Washington believing that he was always ready to fight. "'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.'"
PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Disney and Susan Downey for comment.
Read the full article here