Don Cheadle Dishes on 'Iron Man 2'

In next year's 'Iron Man 2,' Don Cheadle, who takes over for Terrence Howard in the sequel, says the movie's technical complexities were an unforeseen challenge for the veteran actor.

"The special effects, the amount of things that happen, the amount of CGI," Cheadle told Moviefone at Thursday's Ante Up for Africa event outside L.A., to benefit Darfur charities. "It's like getting to play with the best toys at the best level.

"I think the character that I play, my CGI character worked as much as I worked," reveals Cheadle, who plays Col. Jim Rhodes and War Machine in the movie. "The stuntman worked as much as I worked. It's a huge undertaking. It was great. It was a really different experience than I have worked on before. Robert [Downey Jr.] is a great guy to work with. Jon Favreau, everybody is quality. It's a lot of fun, the series."

Cheadle is also signed for the same role in the upcoming 'Avengers,'but Cheadle says that movie is "down the road."

A controversy that has dogged Cheadle since signing onto 'Iron Man 2' last October was his replacing of his pal Howard, who was not asked back for the second one, reportedly because of a money disagreement.

Cheadle said Thursday of taking over for Howard, "The sort of ancillary buzz around it was kind of weird, kind of strange. Terrence is a friend of mine. But the actual playing it, I just felt like it was my role. I wasn't made to feel like I had to sort of take care of what was done before. I really feel like I could make it my own."

Cheadle's Ante Up for Africa event, which was attended by friends Marlon Wayans, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines, and Mekhi Phifer, was co-hosted by poker pro Annie Duke, to benefit Darfur charities. It is the second annual Ante Up for Africa.

Check out a gallery of photos from Ante Up for Africa 2009

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=762239&pid=762238&uts=1256940349

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Ante Up for Africa

See pics of Don Cheadle and friends at the 2009 Ante Up for Africa event.

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

AOL Moviefone is not responsible for caption content.

Ante Up for Africa Photos

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; Comedian Geroge Lopez attends the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; Actor Don Cheadle and professional poker player Annie Duke attend the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; (L-R) Comedian Geroge Lopez and Actor Don Cheadle attends the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; (L-R) Comedian George Lopez and professional poker player Ali Nejad pose for a picture at the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; Comedian George Lopez and actor Don Cheadle play at the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

COMMERCIAL IMAGE: In this photograph taken by AP Images for San Manuel; (L-R) Actress Sara Rue and tournament champion Ali Akhyari play during the 2nd Annual Ante Up for Africa poker tournament to benefit Darfur at San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California on October 29th, 2009. (Vince Bucci / AP Images for San Manuel)

AP IMAGES FOR SAN MANUEL

Actress Cheryl Hines plays in the Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament on October 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament - Inside Los Angeles, CA United States October 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (58776235), contact WireImage.com

Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com

Actor Marlon Wayans plays in the Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament on October 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament - Inside Los Angeles, CA United States October 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (58776175), contact WireImage.com

Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com

Actress Cheryl Hines attends the Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament on October 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Second Annual Ante Up For Africa Poker Tournament - Arrivals Los Angeles, CA United States October 29, 2009 Photo by Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com To license this image (58775183), contact WireImage.com

Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage.com