Terrence Howard blames Robert Downey for missing Iron Man role

New York: `Crash` star Terrence Howard has said that he did not get cast in `Iron Man` sequel because of good friend Robert Downey Jr.

Howard made the accusation during an interview with Andy Cohen on Bravo`s "Watch What Happens Live", reported New York Daily News. A viewer called in to ask, "Why didn`t you come back to Iron Man? I liked you so much in a uniform." "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," Howard said referring to Downey`s reported USD 50 million salary for the trilogy. Howard, who was on the show to promote `The Best Man Holiday`, played US Air Force Lt Col James `Rhodey` Rhodes on the original `Iron Man` in 2008 but he did not return for the sequels. When asked by Cohen that apparently Howard wanted the same money as Downey, the 44-year-old actor said, "We did a three picture deal, so that means that you did the deal ahead of time. There was going to be a certain amount for the first one, a certain amount for the second, and 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 had for you, because we think the second one will be successful with or without you. I called `my friend` that I helped get the first job, and he didn`t call me back for three months." When asked how things are now with Downey, Howard said: "Oh I love him, God`s going to bless him."