Don Cheadle’s Upcoming Crime Drama Helps Redeem An MCU Recasting After 14 Years

Summary Don Cheadle stars in Fight Night, a crime drama inspired by a true story, along with Kevin Hart and Terrence Howard.

Fight Night features a star-studded cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, in a mini Marvel reunion, set to premiere on Peacock.

The series marks the first production with Terrence Howard since the MCU recasting, bringing together two War Machines on screen.

An upcoming crime drama starring award-winning actor, Don Cheadle, will help redeem an MCU recast that happened 14 years ago. Don Cheadle will star in the new Peacock series, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, which will release on the streaming platform on September 5. The crime drama is inspired by the true story, discussed in the iHeart true-crime podcast, of how an armed robbery at an after-party celebrating Muhammad Ali’s 1970 comeback fight changed Atlanta. Fight Night stars Don Cheadle as J.D. Hudson, one of the first Black detectives in the city who is tasked with investigating the robbery.

Fight Night’s first-look images reveal a star-studded cast, with famed comedian, Kevin Hart, featuring as the character “Chicken Man,” who must convince Cheadle’s Hudson that he was not responsible for the robbery. Fight Night’s official trailer showed the cast in action, with what appears to be an intriguing performance from Kevin Hart, which is a far cry from his usual comedy genre. However, one particular member of the cast will stand out to fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Terrence Howard also appears in the series as Cadillac Richie.

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Don Cheadle Stars Alongside Terrence Howard In Fight Night After MCU Recasting

Two War Machines In One Movie

Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist stars Don Cheadle and Terence Howard in their first production together since the famous MCU recasting. In 2008’s Iron Man, the movie which kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Terrence Howard played Tony Stark’s Air Force friend, James “Rhodey” Rhodes, a prominent character who is integral to the film’s plot. However, in the second installment of the Iron Man movies, Iron Man 2, Terrence Howard was surprisingly recast by Don Cheadle. Cheadle has since taken over the role of Rhodey in the rest of the MCU, becoming known for his portrayal of War Machine.

Among the many MCU recasts are James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Bruce Banner, Thanos, Fandral, Red Skull, Cassie Lang, and Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. Whilst Howard Stark was also technically recasted, Gerard Sanders only ever appeared in photographs in Iron Man.

Terrence Howard left his role as Rhodey due to a supposed salary dispute and has not returned to the MCU since. His recasting marks the first in the Marvel franchise, making it the most notable. However, there have been multiple recasts since, from Rhodey to the recent recasting of Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. Due to Howard’s previous comments on his recasting, people might assume Cheadle and Howard have bad blood, but with their first appearance together in Fight Night, it appears it may all be behind them. Furthermore, there are other Marvel actors in the star-studded cast.

Fight Night Stars Another Big MCU Actor

There Is A Mini Marvel Reunion In Fight Night

Fight Night also stars another MCU actor in its lineup. Samuel L. Jackson features in the crime drama as Frank Moten, dubbed “The Black Godfather” by Kevin Hart’s character in the trailer. Samuel L. Jackson is best known as Nick Fury in the MCU, the one-eyed leader of the government organization, S.H.I.E.L.D. Frank Moten appears just as dangerous as Jackson's Marvel counterpart in the trailer, saying “Don’t nobody f*** with Frank Moten.” However, Samuel L. Jackson is not the only one. Myles Bullock, who played AWOL in Marvel’s Runaways, also appears in Fight Night, joining the show’s small Marvel reunion.