Feb 26 2009Samuel L. Jackson Playing Nick Fury Until He Dies
Marvel still reportedly won't pay Mickey Rourke enough to put on a big metal suit and fight Iron Man, but the studio has signed Samuel L. Jackson to continue his role as Nick Fury for up to nine more films, locking the actor down for single, after-the-credits scenes for years to come. From Variety (thanks again, Joshua):
Jackson's deal is a long-term commitment to play Fury, the leader of the espionage unit the Shield. His deal contains an option to play the character in nine future Marvel superhero films, efforts that are expected to include "Captain America," "Thor," "The Avengers" and "The Shield" as well as potential sequels.Jackson introduced Fury in the closing moments of "Iron Man," when the character asked Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark to join his group. Fury is a natural to show up in multiple Marvel franchises, as he crosses paths with many Marvel superheroes in the comicbooks.
Jackson's Marvel future looked murky, after he reportedly expressed his displeasure with the producer-financier's initial offer to reprise his role. Jackson was hardly alone: Even though "Iron Man" grossed more than $600 million worldwide, Marvel brass has been sparing in offers to talent like Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell to play villains in the sequel, sources said.
With how cheap Marvel seems to be acting with everything, expect that, in the unlikely event of Jackson's illness or death, they'll make sure they get their contract's worth by using footage from Shaft and a lot of Deal or No Deal-style silhouetted phone calls.
Reader Comments
1. Tom - February 26, 2009 4:07 PM
Well, if the call the movie about SHIELD "The Shield", I'm guessing a lot of people are going to be really really confused.
2. Mick - February 26, 2009 4:21 PM
As long as they squeeze in Pulp Fiction lines, I dont care, "Say what one more god damn time!"
3. Bin - February 27, 2009 10:17 AM
"Enough is ENOUGH! I HAVE HAD IT WITH MOTHERF#%@ING HYDRA ON MY MOTHERF#%@ING HELICARRIER!"
...it's funny, 'cause he's Samuel L. Jackson...and he said something like that in another movie... and... um...yeah.
4. Bobeyo - February 27, 2009 3:21 PM
Crap. My spark of hope for a non-black Nick Fury is gone.
5. MightyD - February 27, 2009 3:59 PM
WTF is that Gxd dxmn crap about having a gxd dxmn black Nick Fury...fxck'n retarded Ultimate marvel shxt...Might as well give it back to the Hoff...now, we'll have a freakin' Nick Fury with the oh so old trademarked "my people overcame slavery" attitude of fxck'n jackson for 9 movies....let me barf.
6. Amaranth - February 27, 2009 4:16 PM
how did Nick Fury turn black?
7. Switcher - February 27, 2009 6:04 PM
"how did Nick Fury turn black?"
He did'nt. The black Nick Fury is the Nick Fury from the official alternative-grimmer-kickass-mature-sexier-takenoprisoner 'Ultimate' universe from Marvel Comics. Mark Waid (writer) and Bryan Hitch (pencil) designed him that way, the likeness with Mr Jackson was originally intended : they askey him BEFORE (and he said yes of course). So we have "another" official Nick Fury in the Marvelverse and he's black. No big deal from my point.
The slight problem is : the Marvel universe depicted in the movies (PG13) is the classic one and this Fury is a bit uncommun (the classic Marvel universe has his own Fury, and he's plain white and as badass as my mom). Does it mean that they plan to mix-up the two comic's universes for the cinema ? Why not.
It could be great. Or a great fracking mess.
8. Prof - February 28, 2009 5:56 AM
So all of you bitching about Sam Jackson playing Fury (the ultimate version) would rather see a middle aged white guy run around on screen wearing skin tight baby blue tights, white boots & gloves, with a Buck Rogers style ray gun, while wearing a eye-patch and smoking on a CIGAR! REALLY... do you realize how gay jokes this Nick Fury would create just on the blogs alone. Some things just work better in the comic books... I like Thor but I'm not boycotting if they decide not to give him bright yellow boots, a red cape, and a helmet with wings. I mean seriously Marvel wants to also sell these movies to other people besides just fanboys, besides Marvel tried a white Nick Fury, and it was the HOFF! Needless to say the t.v. movie sucked.
9. Otterman - February 28, 2009 5:53 PM
I'm not surprised Marvel are being cheap. After losing so much money by basically destroying Spiderman they're probably checking their chump change. Either that or they're skint because Joe Quesada has decided to treat himself to another hefty bonus for being awesome. And by awesome we mean terrible. Really, really terrible.
10. Cotton - March 1, 2009 8:12 PM
um, Spider-Man 3 grossed almost a trillion dollars worldwide. I wish I could lose money like that.