Samuel L. Jackson Didn’t Think He Would Live Long Enough to Complete His Initial Marvel Contract

Samuel L. Jackson Didn't Think He Would Live Long Enough to  Complete His Initial Marvel Contract

As a lifelong cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of cinema from the black-and-white era to the age of Marvel and beyond, I can confidently say that few actors embody the spirit of modern filmmaking quite like Samuel L. Jackson. His career is nothing short of extraordinary, with his time spent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe being a testament to his unparalleled talent and enduring charisma.


Samuel L. Jackson doubted he would finish filming all his Marvel movies due to his busy acting schedule and the fact that he’s been in many different genres of films. He’s unique because he’s been a part of both Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His journey with Marvel started with a small role as Nick Fury in Iron Man (2008), which led to a nine-film contract. However, he wondered if it was feasible to complete this contract given his lifespan.

During an interview with GQ Magazine about his career, Jackson openly discussed his original nine-film agreement to play Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor shared his initial thoughts on how long he’d need to live to finish all these movies, assuming they would take a considerable amount of time. However, he was taken aback by the swift pace at which he managed to complete the films he initially agreed to star in.

Initially, I signed a contract for nine films with Marvel Studios. When Kevin Feige mentioned a multi-film agreement, I didn’t realize it would result in nine movies so quickly. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting them to produce nine movies within just two and a half years! That’s quite astonishing! It seems I’m exhausting my contract terms rather swiftly. Fortunately, everything turned out well.

Samuel Jackson Has Been a Marvel Staple Since 2008

Samuel L. Jackson Didn't Think He Would Live Long Enough to  Complete His Initial Marvel ContractSamuel L. Jackson Didn't Think He Would Live Long Enough to  Complete His Initial Marvel ContractSamuel L. Jackson Didn't Think He Would Live Long Enough to  Complete His Initial Marvel ContractSamuel L. Jackson Didn't Think He Would Live Long Enough to  Complete His Initial Marvel Contract

Jackson’s tenure as Nick Fury began with a brief appearance at the end of the 2008 film “Iron Man,” where he was subtly introduced as the orchestrator who would eventually bring The Avengers together. His character’s significance grew in “Iron Man 2” and has since been featured in “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Avengers,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain Marvel,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” “Secret Invasion,” and “The Marvels.” Although his involvement in future Marvel productions has not been officially announced, there’s a strong chance that he won’t be leaving the franchise anytime soon.

Over the course of his involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Jackson’s enthusiasm for portraying Nick Fury and his admiration for Marvel as a whole have remained constant. Despite having worked with esteemed directors such as Spike Lee, George Lucas, and Quentin Tarantino, he has consistently valued the impact that the MCU has had on his professional journey. In fact, he has openly expressed a preference for creating these large-scale films over pursuing an Academy Award.

I don’t view the Oscars as a determining factor for my success or failure as an actor. Instead, I gauge my success by whether I’m content and happy with my work. I’m not interested in roles that are just for the sake of winning an Oscar. To me, it’s more fulfilling to play characters like Nick Fury or Mace Windu, or simply having a good time while wielding a lightsaber.

Interestingly, Jackson will appear in a forthcoming movie that’s already sparking discussions for potential Oscar nominations. This film is “The Piano Lesson,” which premieres on Netflix and is based on August Wilson’s 1987 play of the same name. The story unfolds in Pittsburgh in 1936, during the aftermath of the Great Depression, where it centers around the Charles family, with Doaker Charles (Jackson) as a central figure. The narrative revolves around a significant heirloom – a piano – adorned with designs created by one of their ancestors who was once enslaved. Besides Jackson, the film features an impressive cast that includes John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins.

The Piano Lesson
hits Netflix on Nov. 22.

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2024-09-27 01:01