Iron Man Shuffle: Don Cheadle will replace Terrence Howard in Iron Man 2 because the latter’s deal fell through over “financial differences.†The character of Jim Rhodes (a.k.a. War Machine) is expected to play a larger part in the sequel, which Justin Theroux is at this very moment rewriting to be about activists in Darfur. [HR]
Fox Bails Out Wall Street: Fox understands your economic woes, and they’re ready to capitalize on them with a Wall Street sequel called Money Never Sleeps, to be written by 21’s Allan Loeb. Story will feature Gordon Gekko, the corporate raider originally played by Michael Douglas in Oliver Stone’s 1987 original. Douglas said he’s interested in reprising the character but will make his decision based on the script, and whether there’s still anyone in America who can afford to see a movie in a few years. [HR]
Martin and Meyers Triangulate: Steve Martin has joined Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin in Nancy Meyers’s untitled romantic comedy at Universal. Story follows two guys who compete for the affections of one special lady and definitely features their sassy best friends who give them advice along the way. [Variety]
Mulan Rouge: Xinhua Media and the state-run China Film Group are making a $30 million live-action version of Mulan, the legend of a heroic Chinese girl warrior made famous by Disney’s 1998 animated movie. [HR]
Winick Smells a Rat: Charlotte’s Web’s Gary Winick will direct Rat Bastard for Applehead Pictures, the story of a con man who gets revenge on his old loot-stealing partner by posing as a chef for a family on the Upper East Side. The pic reteams Winick with Tadpole writer Heather McGowan, which might also mean a reteaming with whatever blind cinematographer they used to shoot that debacle. [Variety]