'Iron Man 2': Two new additions to the all-star cast

There are so many huge stars signed on for "Iron Man 2" at this point that it might be simpler to just name the people who are NOT in the film.

First new addition: "Iron Man"-newcomer Kate Mara.  No word yet on what Mara will play. Mara has plenty of credits to speak of, but as of now, she's not a household name; when you look up "Kate Mara" on IMDB, she is the second hit; after "Mary-Kate Olsen"! Ouch.

Joining Mara and company will be Clark Gregg, who will reprise his role as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Agent Phil Coulson.

Also confirmed for the film are Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Paul Bettany, and Don Cheadle.

A stellar cast, by most any standards. Unless you're a die-hard Terrence Howard fan, that is. Howard played the role of Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes in "Iron Man," but Don Cheadle will take it on in the sequel.

Howard told Parade,"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."

But Howard's beef is not with his replacement, Cheadle. As he told Parade, "I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the movie. I want to see Don Cheadle become me. No, I want him to do better than me. That's what I really want to see. Don Cheadle was the reason I got 'Crash,' so I have a lot of love for him."

Are you bummed that Cheadle is replacing Howard in "Iron Man 2"?

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Related "Iron Man 2" dish:

Scarlett Johansson already sweating for 'Iron Man 2'!

-- Stephanie Lysaght

Photo, top: Kate Mara.  Credit: WireImage 

Photo, lower: Clark Gregg. Credit: WireImage

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