Don Cheadle Says Marvel Movie Costars Are Like Family | Popgen Tech

When the Avengers assemble, it’s like a family reunion with Don Cheadle.

In the new issue of PEOPLE, the Oscar-nominated actor, who played Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes, aka War Machine, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since joining the cast in the 2010’s Iron Man 2said, “We always go home when we come back.”

Since taking over the role from Terrence Howard, Cheadle, 58, has appeared in several MCU titles including Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War. Whenever a project comes up, he says he looks forward to reuniting the cast, which includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans.

“We don’t see each other for many years, and then there will be a chance to get together Avengers or something. There will be another child, or a newly married or newly divorced. Everyone’s situation is constantly changing,” Cheadle said.

“So I’ve kind of grown up in the last 12 years with this cast which I’m really excited about,” he continued.

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Cheadle will have the opportunity to work with some of them again when he films Armor Wars, a film centered around the character of Rhodes. No production date has been set, but Marvel is reportedly looking at 2023.

“Hopefully, in this new movie, I’ll get a chance to really play with this character in a way that we haven’t seen before, and really try to build out who Rhodey is and give him a real backstory, and find out what beating heart underneath this character,” he said.

“To have this opportunity late in the game to explore and play and find out who this guy is — I’m looking forward to that,” Cheadle continued.

The actor is also hoping to reduce his work schedule for some balance next year. “I’ve been working non-stop for over 30 years,” says Cheadle, who plays an Elvis Presley-obsessed professor in the upcoming Netflix dark comedy White Noise.

“We’re used to being on the hamster wheel,” says Cheadle, who has children Tai, 28, and Imani, 26, with wife Bridgid Coulter Cheadle, 54. “So take a minute to step back and take care of your self is important.”

White Noise stream on Netflix December 30.

For more on Don Cheadle, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE.