Why Did Terrence Howard Leave 'Iron Man'? Actor Says Robert Downey Jr. 'Pushed Him Out' [VIDEO]

Terrence Howard has publicly attacked his Iron Man co-star Robert Downey Jr. for allegedly 'pushing him out' of the "Ironman" franchise. In an interview on Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live" on Bravo, the "Hustle and Flow" star accused Downey Jr. of not trying to help him when producers tried to cut his salary to an eighth of what he was originally promised."I called 'my friend' that I helped get the first job, and he didn't call me back for three months,''' said Howard.

Terrence Howard played U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes in the original Ironman movie, but was cut from the two sequels. In Comics Alliance's report, according to the Oscar-nominated actor, "We did a three-picture deal, so that meant we did the deal ahead of time. There was going to be a certain amount for the first one, a certain amount for the second, a certain amount for the third. They came to me with the second and said, "Look, we will pay you one-eighth of what we contractually have for you, because we think the second one will be successful with or without you."

Robert Downey Jr., the franchise's star and former friend of Howard, apparently did nothing when his friend tried to make contact: It turns out in order for - this is going to get me in a lot of trouble - it turns out that 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."