Terrence Howard Speaks About "Iron Man" Snub

Actor Terrence Howard said the decision to replace him with actor Don Cheadle in the upcoming "Iron Man" sequel was a surprise to him, according to the Associated Press.

In an interview with National Public Radio on Tuesday, the actor said he was replaced without warning or explanation.

"It was the surprise of a lifetime," Howard said. "There was no explanation, (the contract) just up and vanished."

Last week's announcement that Cheadle would assume Howard's role of James Rhodes, who later becomes Iron Man's sidekick, War Machine, was reportedly based on a financial disagreement between Howard and the studio.

"I read something in the trades implicating that it was about money or something, but apparently the contracts that we write and sign aren't worth the paper that they're printed on, sometimes," Howard said on NPR. "Promises aren't kept, and good faith negotiations aren't always held up... (The contract) just... up and vanished."

Earlier this year, Howard expressed his excitement to be part of the "Iron Man" trilogy in an interview with Access Hollywood.

"I've never had a three-picture deal, where I'm going to make 'X' amount of money in two years, and two years from that make 'X' amount of money and maybe have my own spin-off as War Machine," Howard said.

Other familiar faces will be returning to the big screen for the "Iron Man" sequels. Robert Downey Jr. will revive his role as Tony Stark and Gwyneth Paltrow will return as Stark's assistant, Pepper Potts.