Terence Howard shared that he threatened to knock out a film producer’s teeth, and it may have gotten him fired from Iron Man 2.
Appearing on the PBD Podcast, Howard recalled a conversation he had with Joel Silver, a film producer, at the 2007 Venice Film Festival.
Howard was promoting the film The Brave One, in which he starred along with Jodie Foster. During an interview, Howard was asked if we didn’t receive top billing.
Howard then spoke to Silver about the matter, and the conversation quickly went south.
”Joel Silver came and had a conversation with me. 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 recalled.
“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,” he continued. ‘And if you ever talk to me in that way again, I’m going to knock your teeth out of your mouth.’ “
Ironically, Susan Downey, Robert Downey Jr’s wife, was a co-producer of The Brave One with Silver. Because of this relationship, Howard believes he was excommunicated from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Eight months later, I lost Iron Man,” Howard said. “And I’m sure that all of those things played their part.”
Howard originally played James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Robert Downey Jr’s friend in Iron Man. When the sequel, Iron Man 2, was released, Howard was replaced by Don Cheadle.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Favreau was not pleased with Howard’s performance in the first film. Also, he “intended to significantly cut down the role, which would mean a pay cut for Howard.” After the fallow Howard described being replaced by Cheadle as the “surprise of a lifetime.”
Because of his “aggression” and a “need to be a man,” Howard said he lost Iron Man and other roles. Eventually, he received some advice from Denzel Washington.
“He told me, ‘Look at your hands, your fists are all balled up,’” Howard recalled. “‘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.’”