Robert Downey Jr.’s relationship with Marvel is often celebrated as a story of loyalty, influence, and standing up for his fellow actors. However, one controversial incident with Terrence Howard complicates that story.
The contrast between Downey reportedly fighting for Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson and Howard’s very different account of his ‘Iron Man’ exit raises questions about what really happened behind Marvel’s closed doors.
Robert Downey Jr. Reportedly Fought For Chris Hemsworth And Scarlett Johansson
When ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron‘ was in production, Downey was one of Marvel’s most powerful stars. There were also reports of heated discussions regarding the salaries of the cast, especially Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson.
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It’s reported that Hemsworth’s team had pointed out that he had already made millions outside of Marvel, like with Snow White and the Huntsman. Johansson was also unwilling to take a big cut. Downey allegedly made his presence known: he was not going to stay at a place that was being unfair to his co-stars. It’s a great story because Downey had the power to leave, and reportedly used it on behalf of other actors.
Terrence Howard’s Opposite Story
Several years ago, however, Terrence Howard made a public statement that Downey was profiting off his exit from the Iron Man franchise. Howard said Marvel withheld his agreed pay for ‘Iron Man 2’, and that the funds that were supposed to go to him ended up going to Downey.
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When Iron Man became a massive success, Howard said Marvel returned with a drastically reduced offer for the sequel. He claimed his three-picture deal called for substantially more money but that the studio offered only $1 million for Iron Man 2.
He then said he repeatedly contacted Downey for help and received no response. However, there’s an important piece often left out of the story: Downey denied being responsible for Howard’s reduced paycheck. In a 2008 statement reported by Hindustan Times, Downey said he had nothing to do with the decision and that he didn’t fully understand what had happened.
The Downey described as someone willing to fight Marvel’s executives for Hemsworth and Johansson exists alongside Howard’s public allegation about what happened to him. Maybe the two scenarios were entirely different. Maybe there were facts the public didn’t know. But without seeing those negotiations, nobody outside the room can know exactly what happened.
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