Iron Man 2 Switcheroo: Cheadle Replaces Howard

Industrial Light & Magic

It seems Terrence Howard just didn't have the mettle for another Iron Man.

The Oscar-nominated actor is out of his role as Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes, Tony Stark's BFF and would-be flying partner War Machine, in Iron Man 2, after negotiations with Marvel fell through, per the Hollywood Reporter, due to "financial differences."

Don Cheadle has been tapped as Howard's replacement for the second go-round, in which Rhodes and his heroic alter ego War Machine get a much meatier part.

But while Howard is out, the rest of the players remain unchanged.

Robert Downey Jr. is, of course, back as the titular metal-suited man, and Gwyneth Paltrow is also expected to reprise the role of his assistant, Pepper Potts. Jon Favreau returns to the director's chair.

No start date has been set, though Iron Man 2 has been slated for release in April 2010.