Have you ever wondered how a single scene could redefine the trajectory of a character we’ve come to love? Numerous deleted scenes starring Iron Man throughout the character’s MCU history could’ve altered the direction of the franchise. Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., is certainly one of the most significant heroes in the MCU, having been the character whose tale once served as the catalyst for the film series’ narrative.
That being said, there were, nonetheless, numerous scenes in Jon Favreau’s film, Iron Man, that were never incorporated into the franchise’s canon. One such scene included when Tony found himself in a precarious situation during his battle on the Freeway with Obadiah Stane, dressed as Iron Monger.
During this moment, Terrence Howard’s character, Rhodey, came to rescue Iron Man from a brutal beatdown at the hands of Stane.
Iron Man: When Terrence Howard’s Rhodey Stepped in to Protect Tony Stark in Deleted Scene
Imagine if Terrence Howard’s Rhodey not only proved his undying loyalty to Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark/Iron Man but also showed his inherent bravery early in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
An unearthed deleted scene from Jon Favreau’s Iron Man provided just that—a stirring portrait of comradeship as Rhodey saved Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man from getting his as* kicked by Obadiah Stane in the Iron Monger suit. During one of the climactic sequences, Howard’s Rhodey helped Downey Jr.’s Iron Man out by hitting the Iron Monger with his car.
This perfectly establishes the depth of his friendship with Tony and his drive to be a hero, even without donning a suit of armor.
Though it has little to no effect on the battle itself, the event could also have had gigantic implications for Rhodey’s character, setting the stage for his eventual role as War Machine and a key member of the Avengers team.
While the scene may have been cut from the final film, its impact on Rhodey’s character development cannot be understated. The character, who was first portrayed by Howard and then by Don Cheadle in the MCU, was initially presented as Tony Stark’s best friend and a U.S. Air Force officer.
Being an expert pilot, he joined Stark’s valiant endeavors and acquired his own Iron Man armor while adopting the alias War Machine and, subsequently, the Iron Patriot. But why did Don Cheadle assume Howard’s role in the MCU?
MCU’s War Machine: Terrence Howard’s Departure & Don Cheadle’s Arrival
Since Terrence Howard’s replacement by Don Cheadle as War Machine was announced, more details about the circumstances surrounding the change have come to light.
Entertainment Weekly claimed that Howard’s alleged behavior on the Iron Man set required numerous re-shoots and edits in order to achieve a performance that director Jon Favreau was still not happy with. As a result, the latter intended to minimize Rhodey’s involvement in Iron Man 2.
Although Howard has consistently denied having a negative experience filming Iron Man, the outlet also noted that he and his representatives were not made aware of these problems during production. The actor has also spoken out a lot about leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Though his opinion on whether it will help or hurt his career seems to fluctuate daily, he has taken to blaming Robert Downey Jr. for his termination. For instance, Howard once told Vulture:
The person that I helped become Iron Man, when it was time to re-up for the second one, took the money that was supposed to go to me and pushed me out.
He went on to say that this “unnamed person” did not answer his calls for months. Well, Marvel was in talks with Cheadle to take over as Howard’s replacement after the latter was fired from the role (see Den of Geek).
It is difficult to determine whether Howard’s exit from the MCU was ultimately advantageous. Being freed from such a broad franchise has undoubtedly helped him amass a diverse filmography; two noteworthy examples are Empire and Prisoners, helmed by Denis Villeneuve.
Iron Man is streaming on Disney+.
