“Next Time, Baby?” Not for Terrence Howard.

While summer 2008 blockbuster Iron Man all-but-promised that Tony Stark’s best friend Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard) would make an appearance as armor-clad hero War Machine in the next installment, the Academy Award-nominated actor will not be returning for the 2010 Marvel Studios sequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Instead, “Rhodey” will be played by fellow Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda, Crash), who was approached by Marvel Studios after negotiations with Howard fell through.

Iron Man 2 reunites director Jon Favreau with Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, who will reprise their roles as Stark/Iron Man and his assistant Pepper Potts. Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder) is writing the screenplay.