Don Cheadle is a chameleon.
Honestly, most people just think of him as Rhodey in the Marvel movies, standing next to Robert Downey Jr. and looking slightly exasperated. But if you really want to see the man work—to see that razor-sharp, fast-talking, borderline-unhinged energy—you have to look at his television career. Specifically, everyone is talking about the Don Cheadle TV show House of Lies again because it is literally about to vanish from Netflix on January 23, 2026.
If you haven't binged it yet, you're running out of time.
It's weird. We live in this era of "prestige TV" where everything feels like it's trying to be the next Succession, but House of Lies was doing the "terrible people in expensive suits" thing way before it was cool. Cheadle plays Marty Kaan. He’s a management consultant. That sounds boring, right? It's not. It’s basically a show about professional liars who charge $40,000 a day to tell CEOs what they want to hear while sleeping with their wives and stealing their watches.
The Don Cheadle TV Show You Forgot (But Shouldn't Have)
Marty Kaan isn't a hero. He’s barely even a protagonist.
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He’s a shark in a world of slightly smaller, dumber sharks. The show ran for five seasons on Showtime, and it was one of the first times a major film star of Cheadle's caliber really committed to the "anti-hero" TV wave. He even won a Golden Globe for it.
Why the vibe is so unique
The show breaks the fourth wall constantly. Marty will stop mid-conversation, the entire world freezes around him, and he’ll turn to the camera to explain exactly how he’s screwing over the person standing three inches away from him. It’s slick. It’s cynical. It’s very, very funny.
But it’s also remarkably deep. While the surface is all about the "raunchy romp" of corporate consulting, the heart of the show is Marty’s relationship with his son, Roscoe, and his father, Jeremiah (played by the legendary Glynn Turman). It handles race, gender, and family dynamics in a way that felt years ahead of 2012.
- The Cast: Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz, and Josh Lawson.
- The Stakes: High-level corporate sabotage.
- The Style: Fast, loud, and incredibly stylized.
Is Armor Wars Ever Actually Coming?
Now, we can't talk about a Don Cheadle TV show without addressing the elephant in the room: Armor Wars.
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This project has been stuck in development hell for so long it’s starting to feel like a myth. Originally, it was announced as a Disney+ series. Then, Marvel decided to pivot and make it a feature film. As of early 2026, the status is... complicated.
Cheadle himself has been pretty candid about it. In interviews, he’s basically said, "You find out and let me know." Marvel's 2026 slate is packed with Avengers: Doomsday and Wonder Man, leaving Armor Wars in a strange limbo. Rumors from production circles in Georgia suggest filming might finally kick off later this year, but don't hold your breath.
The New Essential: Fight Night
If you're looking for something more recent, you've got to check out Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.
This Peacock miniseries is a heavy hitter. It’s based on a true-crime podcast about a massive robbery in Atlanta on the night of Muhammad Ali’s 1970 comeback fight. Cheadle plays J.D. Hudson, one of the first Black detectives in Atlanta's desegregated police force.
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It’s a complete 180 from the flashy Marty Kaan. Hudson is stoic. He’s a man of duty. Seeing Cheadle play off Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Hart is basically a masterclass in screen presence. It’s a reminder that even when he’s not the one cracking the jokes, he’s the one holding the scene together.
Why Cheadle's TV Work Matters More Than His Movies
Movies are great, but TV gives Cheadle room to breathe.
In Black Monday, which sadly got canceled after three seasons, he played Mo Monroe. It was another corporate satire, but set in the 1980s. Mo was like Marty Kaan on a cocktail of cocaine and pure desperation. It was chaotic, loud, and brilliant.
The common thread in every Don Cheadle TV show is that he never plays it safe. He doesn't care if you like his characters. In fact, he usually prefers it if you don't. He wants you to be fascinated by them.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Binge
If you want the full "Cheadle Experience," here is how you should tackle it before the rights shift again:
- Watch House of Lies on Netflix immediately. You have until January 23. If you miss that window, you’ll have to hunt it down on Paramount+ with the Showtime add-on.
- Move to Fight Night on Peacock. It’s only eight episodes. You can knock it out in a weekend. It gives you that gritty, historical drama fix.
- Track down Black Monday. It’s harder to find now because of the Showtime/Paramount merger, but it’s worth the digital rental if you like 80s aesthetics and high-speed insults.
Don't wait for Armor Wars. The best Cheadle content is already out there, and it's a lot more interesting than a guy in a flying metal suit. Start with House of Lies tonight—Marty Kaan’s fourth-wall breaks are waiting for you.