In Wizard Magazine's latest issue, it features an interview with Don Cheadle. Who will be seen as James Rhodey Rhodes in the upcoming blockbuster Iron Man 2.
-Don, what was it like joining the cast of “Iron Man 2”? It was a different experience, that’s for sure. Very unique and a different way to work with all the unknowns that you have to deal with in a movie like that. I’ve done another kind of big, green-screen movie before “Mission to Mars,” but this is definitely a much bigger scope than that film. -What was it like taking on the role of Rhodey and working with Robert Downey J? How did you guys find the chemistry for that relationship? Well it was a constant work in progress, you know? I was trying to figure out who these guys as friends. [There’s also an] adversarial position for a long part of the movie, just how do we do that and still keep the kind of power structure working with these two, War Machine and Iron Man? Like, is this city big enough for both of us? -Since you were interested in the film the first around, did you know much about Rhodey and War Machine even before going to set? Oh very little. I knew very little about Iron Man. It wasn’t one of the comics that I read growing up. I read X-Men and Batman. I got to comic books late; I got to comic books in college, you know? So it was The Dark Knight. Watchmen, those kind of graphic novel comic book-style things I was into. So I didn’t know a lot about Iron Man. And then I saw the film, and still that was my touchstone to it. And then obviously when I said “yes” this, I was deluges with Iron Man and War Machine lore. -How do you figure out your take on a character versus the reference they give you from a comic? There's so many stories that are generated, you’re trying to figure out what are the qualities about him that serve this piece that you do in this movie the best. Like you said, they’re two different things. And it just seems like the thing that was really the bedrock was their friendship. These guys are friends. And now, how do we navigate all that? That’s what the movie really was about-how do they navigate this friendship in these really perilous circumstances? -That almost answers my next question-what’s that relationship like? Is it like a relationship of friendship although they don’t always agree? Yeah, yeah. In this one they don’t agree a lot, and it goes to a level where obviously there’s a whole disagreement. It’s real interesting to try and keep that all together as we’re going through and really kind of charting those scenes. Well, what is the motivation here for these character, and how can we do that and still service the Marvel world? -How did it feel to suit up as War Machine? It’s heavy. I mean, you know, I never wore the entire suit at any time, but the top part and the chest piece and the back and all the arms, it’s heavy. It’s really big, it’s really heavy. -Have you had the chance to check out any of the toys based on you yet? I’ve seen ‘em all because I have to approve all these likeness and everything like that. Yeah, so I’ve seen a bunch of toys. -Are you going to have a little collection of Don Cheadle action figures, or ir that not really you thing? I probably will have to have some, I mean, come on, right? I gotta start it. -I think the only thing that would be weird is if I saw an action figure of myself staring at me one day. Yeah they can be pretty weird, they can be pretty weird. But it is what it is and I’m glad to have an action figure to play with. -Now in terms of being War Machine, do you get your own villain in this film? Do you have an antagonist? No. They bad guy in this movie is Ivan Vanko, Mickey Rourke’s character. He’s kinda everybody’s bad guy. -He’s big enough to be. Yeah. He’s a beast. -Did you work much with guys over at Marvel Studios? [Marvel Studios President] Kevin [Feige] is there all the time on the set. Kevin keeps you in the Marvel satellite, so to speak, and he keeps the satellite in it’s orbit. -It’s not just about action or big explosions or the great effect. There’s a real story that goes on in these films. I think you’ve seen that. You really are trying to protect the story because that’s the main thing that has to work. And when you’re coming in and out of the special effects, that’s the litmus test, you know: Do people still care? Does it still hold any sort of sway with the audience? Are they still on the ride of the special effects?
The number of days left are slowly decreasing. 27 more days til Iron Man 2 hits theaters world-wide. Then you'll be able to form your own thought on Cheadle's performance.
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