The world has heard about how Marvel stars have grown together and formed close friendships. Don Cheadle talked to People about what it means to him when reuniting with fellow Marvel stars on collaborative projects, like the Avengers movies, in which he has starred in three of the four films.
Taking over from Terrence Howard in Iron Man 2 and the rest of the MCU, Don Cheadle has become the definitive James “Rhodey” Rhodes (War Machine) in the Marvel universe. As he has spent time with co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, and more, he has “grown up over the last 12 years” with everyone. He noted that after all these years, he still has “fun with” them.
Don Cheadle looks back on 12 years of Avengers movies with fellow Marvel stars
In this post-Endgame world, we are getting smaller characters to get more prominent roles. We recently have seen that for Mantis (Pom Klementieff) in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) in WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Marvel is getting ready to give Don Cheadle that opportunity with Armored Wars, which was set to be a Disney+ series and now has shifted into being a film.
The actor has had a long road as Rhodey. He has been in Iron Man 2 and 3, Age of Ultron, Civil War, Infinity War, Endgame, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, What If…?, and the after-credit scene of Captain Marvel. The most significant portions of his story have been as a supporting character for Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. Since his death, the character has room to grow and become independent.
Not much is known about Armored Wars. It has not been announced in the slate of films and shows in Phases 5 and 6, although it is likely to be filled in one of the several dates that have no projects attached. Don Cheadle does mention about his standalone Marvel movie that he is “looking forward” to having “this opportunity this late in the game.”
