Bob Layton was asked what he thought about Jim Rhodes on the big screen versus in the comics:
“For the most part, I think keeping him in the military was an interesting idea,” said Layton. “The more I thought about it, the fact that he wasn’t an employee of Stark’s actually made their friendship work a little better. Part of the problem with the book is that all of Tony’s friends are his employees."
"It was unfortunate that so much of the characterization between Jim and Tony in the first movie wound up on the cutting room floor," he added. "If you see the DVD and the stuff they cut out. I loved some of the scenes they shot that didn’t make it into the movie because it really solidified their friendship.”
MTV also asked Bob on his thoughts about Don Cheadle taking over the role played by Terrance Howard in the first Iron Man:
“I thought [Howard] was good,” Layton said. “He looked more of the role than perhaps Don Cheadle does. Because Cheadle is a smaller guy and we always portrayed Jim Rhodes as a bigger guy. And Terrence Howard is obviously a terrific performer. All of the acting was first rate in [‘Iron Man’].”
“I think what they’ve got coming up in ‘Iron Man 2’ is terrific,” Layton continued. “Obviously Don Cheadle is an Academy Award nominee. How could he not bring something to role? I’m really anxious to see how Don Cheadle comes off as Jim Rhodes.”
DogsOfWar-It will be interesting to see what dynamic Iron Man 2 takes with Tony and Jim's friendship. The trailer we have all seen shows the two in armor back to back fighting together. At what point in the movie is this from? Is it in the middle, thus setting up their differences with each other for future movies, including Avengers, or is it towards the end? If it is the latter, how much screen time, if any, will be devoted to the two splitting apart their friendship and then building it back up? We will all find out this Spring!