James Rhodes (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
James Rhodes | |
---|---|
Marvel Cinematic Universe character | |
First appearance | Iron Man (2008) |
Based on | |
Adapted by | |
Portrayed by |
|
Voiced by | Don Cheadle (What If...?) |
In-universe information | |
Full name | James Rhodes |
Aliases |
|
Nickname | Rhodey |
Title | U.S. Air Force ) |
Occupation |
|
Affiliation |
|
Weapon | War Machine armor |
Nationality | American |
James Rhodes is a fictional character originally portrayed by
Rhodes is recruited into the
Rhodes is a central MCU character, having appeared in eight films as of 2023. He also appears in the miniseries
An alternate version of Rhodes appears in the animated series What If...? (2021), with Cheadle reprising the role. Cheadle also portrays the Skrull Raava impersonating Rhodes in the miniseries Secret Invasion (2023).
Fictional character biography
James Rhodes served as a pilot and officer in the
Iron Man and War Machine
In 2009, when Stark is kidnapped by the
In 2012, Rhodes is rebranded as the Iron Patriot. He works directly for the President of the United States and is tasked with tracking down a terrorist called the
Joining the Avengers
In 2015, Rhodes attends the
In 2016, Rhodes is present at the Avengers Compound when
By 2018, Rhodes has become disillusioned with the Accords, and disobeys orders from Ross to arrest Rogers, Romanoff, Wilson, and Maximoff after they return with Vision to the Avengers Compound. He then joins Rogers and the others to
Time Heist and aftermath
Twenty-three days later, Rhodes is reunited with Stark and then joins Rogers, Romanoff, Bruce Banner, Thor, Rocket, Carol Danvers, and Nebula on a mission to the Garden, where they confront Thanos. They learn that he destroyed the Infinity Stones, and Rhodes is present when Thor kills Thanos.
In 2023, Rhodes continues missions as an Avenger while keeping track of Barton's whereabouts and reporting back to Romanoff. After Stark and Lang devise a plan to time travel via the
In 2024, Rhodes attends a ceremony at the
Replaced by a Skrull
Sometime between 2024 and 2026, Rhodes is kidnapped by the
Alternate versions
An alternate version of Rhodes appears in the animated series What If...?, with Cheadle reprising his role.
Killmonger deception
In an alternate 2009, Rhodes is sent to purchase
Character creation, characterization, and appearances
The character of James "Rhodey" Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118, in January 1979. In Iron Man #170, in May 1983, Rhodes became Iron Man for a time. Other variations of the character debuted later, with an up-armored Rhodes becoming known as War Machine in Iron Man #282, in July 1992, and as Iron Patriot in Gambit #13, in May 2013. In the mid-2000s, with a number of movies having been made from other Marvel properties licensed to other studios, Kevin Feige realized that Marvel still owned the rights to the core members of the Avengers, which included those from Iron Man's supporting characters. Feige, a self-professed "fanboy", envisioned creating a shared universe just as creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had done with their comic books in the early 1960s.[2]
Casting
Terrence Howard was contracted to play Rhodes in the 2008 film
Howard and his father are Iron Man fans, partly because Rhodes was one of the few black superheroes when he was a child.[5] He was a Downey fan since he saw him in Weird Science, and the two competed physically on set.[6]
Entertainment Weekly reported that Howard was offered a 50 to 80 percent pay cut for Iron Man 2, though it said that it was unclear whether Howard turned down the role or whether Marvel withdrew their offer.[7][8] Following the contract dispute between Howard and Marvel Studios, Don Cheadle was cast to portray War Machine, and Cheadle has portrayed the character for the rest of his MCU appearances.[9][10][11] Isaac Perlmutter, who had previously overseen the development of Marvel Studios, was alleged to have been removed from that position in part due to replacing Howard with Cheadle on the grounds that black people "look the same".[12] A person with knowledge of his creative approach said, however, that Perlmutter "neither discriminates nor cares about diversity, he just cares about what he thinks will make money".[13]
Cheadle only had a few hours to accept the role and did not even know what storyline Rhodes would undergo.[14] He commented that he is a comic book fan, but had not previously participated in comics-themed films due to the scarcity of black superheroes.[15] Cheadle said he thought Iron Man was a robot before the first film came out.[16]
Characterization
A friend of Stark's and the liaison between Stark Industries and the
On how he approached his character in Iron Man 2, Cheadle stated "I go, what's the common denominator here? And the common denominator was really his friendship with Tony, and that's what we really tried to track in this one. How is their friendship impacted once Tony comes out and owns 'I am Iron Man'?".[18] Cheadle said his suit was 23 kilograms (50 lb) of metal, and that he could not touch his face while wearing it.[19]
In Iron Man 3, Rhodes operates the redesigned/upgraded War Machine armor, taking on an
Cheadle called Rhodes' appearance in Captain America: Civil War a "bit more intense and pivotal" compared to his previous appearances.[23] Following his paralysis during the events of Civil War, Rhodes is given an apparatus by Stark to walk again, although according to Cheadle, in Avengers: Infinity War, Rhodes is reluctant to don his War Machine armor and rejoin the Avengers due to his injury. Cheadle believed that Rhodes is "negotiating this reunion and his rejoining this team". He also explained that Rhodes's relationship with Stark "deepened" from his accident, saying, "I think Tony feels somewhat responsible and culpable in a way. But again, he's always had my back in a way that only he could really have".[24]
In Avengers: Endgame, Cheadle described Rhodes's newfound belonging as an Avenger as "not so much straddling one foot in the military. He's much more on the side of The Avengers than he was prior."[25] This is reflected on Rhodes's more instinctive and realist worldview in the midst of encountering the fantastic, with Cheadle explaining, "He's definitely got some 'what-the-eff-is-happening' [attitude,] more than maybe the rest of them do, given his background. But it's a trial by fire, and he's quickly adapted to what [the threat] is, rather than what he wishes it were."[25]
Appearances
Early screenplay drafts written by
- James Rhodes is introduced in Iron Man, and is portrayed by Terrence Howard.[29]
- In
- In better source needed] According to director Shane Black, the patriotic color scheme and name was chosen by the U.S. government in response to the events of The Avengers.[34] Rhodes states that the U.S. government deemed "War Machine" to be too militaristic and that "Iron Patriot" tested well with focus groups. The armor is briefly stolen and used by Eric Savinto abduct President Ellis, but Rhodes is able to recover the armor at the film's conclusion and save the President.
- In
- In Sokovia Accords for the government to regulate their actions. This puts him at odds with Steve Rogers's team of Scott Lang, Clint Barton, Bucky Barnes, Maximoff, and Wilson. Stark's team of Rhodes, Romanoff, Peter Parker, Vision, and T'Challa confront Rogers' team in Germany. However, Rhodes gets injured by Vision by accident and is paralyzed in his legs.[37]
- In Wakanda. After Thanoscompletes the Infinity Gauntlet, Rhodes is one of the few survivors.
- Rhodes appears in the mid-credits scene in Captain Marvel, along with Rogers, Romanoff, and Bruce Banner where they meet Carol Danvers.[39]
- In Avengers: Endgame,[40] Rhodes reunites with Stark and travels to space with the team to Thanos' garden planet to find out that he destroyed the Stones. In 2023, he travels via quantum realm with Nebula to Morag in an alternate timeline to get the Power Stone. After the Blip is reversed, an alternate version of Thanos arrives and attacks the Avengers Headquarters, causing Rhodes, Rocket, and Banner to be trapped, but they are rescued by Lang and then he joins the final fight against Thanos. Afterwards, Rhodes attends Stark's funeral.
- In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Rhodes attends a ceremony in Washington D.C., in which Wilson gives Rogers' shield to the U.S. government and talks with Wilson afterwards.
- An alternate timeline version of Rhodes appears in the Disney+ animated series What If...?.
- Rhodes will return and headline
Reception
Jacob Stalworthy of The Independent was negative of the character, opining that the character was "Iron Man without backstory or humour".[43] However, Jeremy Schneider of NJ.com was more positive of the character and Cheadle's portrayal while highlighting the character being paralyzed in Captain America: Civil War as "one of the most poignant moments in the entire MCU".[44]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Work | Actor | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Scream Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Iron Man | Terrence Howard | Nominated | [45] |
Black Reel Awards | Best Supporting Actor
|
Nominated | [46] | |||
2010 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie: Fight (Iron Man & War Machine vs The Hammer Drones) | Iron Man 2 | Don Cheadle | Nominated[a] | [47] |
Scream Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | [48] | |||
2011 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite On-Screen Team | Nominated[a] | [49] | ||
BET Awards | Best Actor | Nominated | [50] | |||
2013 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie: Chemistry | Iron Man 3 | Nominated[a] | [51] | |
2016 | Teen Choice Awards | Captain America: Civil War | Nominated[b] | [52] | ||
Kids' Choice Awards | #SQUAD | Nominated[c] | [53] | |||
2019 | National Film & TV Awards | Best Performance in a Movie | Avengers: Endgame | Nominated | [54] | |
2021 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Nominated | [55] | |
2024 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special | Secret Invasion | Won | [56][57] |
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c Shared with Robert Downey Jr.
- ^ Shared with Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, and Chadwick Boseman
- ^ Shared with Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, and Chadwick Boseman
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External links
- James Rhodes on Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, an external wiki
- James Rhodes on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki
- James Rhodes on Marvel.com