It was a big day for Marvel movies Tuesday as two stars confirmed their futures in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers, while another had to rack up the services of a lawyer because he allegedly punched out a Broadway composer.
As part of his four-picture deal, Robert Downey Jr. will appear as Tony Stark in The Avengers and Iron Man 2, according to an official statement from Marvel Studios. Director Jon Favreau will helm the sequel and executive-produce Avengers. In case you're scoring along at home, the titles above count for three of Downey's four-picture deal, obviously leaving the door open for a third Iron Man flick or Avengers sequel.
Don Cheadle also signed up to play Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes in Iron Man 2 and Avengers, replacing Terrence Howard. Some rumors say Howard was punching above his weight in negotiations and, when that got on Marvel's nerves, the studio took its blockbuster role elsewhere. Or maybe Marvel decided it could pursue a better actor after Iron Man pulled down half a billion dollars.
Whatever the answer is, Howard has another headache as he allegedly took out past creative differences on a Broadway songwriter. A $5 million lawsuit says Howard went War Machine on Tex Allen, the composer of the Broadway revival of* Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* that Howard starred in last winter.
Two questions remain for court to decide. Did Howard really prove his leading man image by belting a Broadway composer (one step down from "Wheat Grass Smoothie Mixer" on the Macho Scale of professions)? And, if so, why did it take this long for Allen to pursue a lawsuit for an assault that supposedly took place last January? A good right cross can put you down for the 10-count, but 10 months?
There's no word yet on whether Howard will pursue the legal counsel of Marvel's Matthew Murdock.
Artwork courtesy Marvel Comics, Alex Ross
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