When Iron Man actor Terrence Howard was surprisingly replaced by Don Cheadle for Iron Man 2, money was rumored to be the problem. With Iron Man 2 already shooting, Howard spoke with Parade about what really happened:
Marvel made a choice, and it was a very, very bad choice. They didn't keep their word. They didn't honor my contract. They produced a great bounty with the first one but they put it all in the storehouse and you were not allowed in. They did the same thing with Gwyneth Paltrow, from what I've been told. They did it with almost everyone except Robert Downey [Jr.]. One of the things that actors need to learn to do is always stick together, one for all and all for one.
Howard has also seen the script for Iron Man 2 but won't elaborate:
I've seen the script, I know what's going to happen, but I'm not revealing anything. I believe in karma. When someone does something wrong, you don't have to get them back. Everything right will return the favor for you.
Perhaps karma will have Howard replace Cheadle for Iron Man 3 where Mandarin is rumored to be the villain, perhaps played by Iron Man actor Faran Tahir. Tahir won't be in Iron Man 2, but Clark Gregg (returning as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson) and Kate Mara (in an unknown role) will be, having been recently added to the cast.