A week after learning about a big Iron Man casting change, the actor at the center of the replacement is finally speaking out.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Terrence Howard is not being included in the highly-expected sequel primarily due to financial reasons. The studio - which will undoubtedly be paying big bucks to secure Robert Downey Jr. - ultimately chose to go in a different direction and tapped Don Cheadle for the Jim Rhodes role. Assuming Cheadle doesn’t ruffle any other feathers, the Oscar-nominated star could now be in line to see a future spin-off (as character War Machine).

In an interview with NPR, Howard said Marvel’s casting decision came as a complete surprise to him:

“I read something in the trades implicating that it was about money or something, but apparently the contracts that we write and sign aren’t worth the paper that they’re printed on, sometimes. Promises aren’t kept, and good faith negotiations aren’t always held up… (The contract) just…up and vanished.”

Well, if nothing else, maybe this will give Terrence more time to promote his new album?