Samuel L. Jackson is still shocked at how quickly Marvel was able to complete his initial nine-film deal.
The actor, who has played Nick Fury in a dozen Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, looked back on some of his most iconic characters in a recent interview with GQ magazine. He first appeared as a master strategist and superspy in 2008 Iron Man but went on to star in eight more MCU films over the span of a decade.
“I knew I had a nine-picture deal,” Jackson said. “[Marvel Studios president] Kevin [Feige] he said that, “We will offer you a nine-picture contract.” How long do you have to stay alive to make nine movies? It's not the fastest process in the world. I didn't know they were going to make nine movies in about two and a half years (He laughs). It's just crazy! Oh shit, I'm running out of contracts. It worked.
Although his deal with Marvel ended in 2019 Captain Marvelhe had no plans to retire his character anytime soon. It also appeared in 2019 Spider-Man: Far From Home2023 The Wonders and was the star of his own Disney+ series Secret invasion.
He said The Hollywood journalist in 2019 that he would happily play Nick Fury well into his 80s. “I could be the Alec Guinness of Marvel movies,” the Oscar-nominated actor said at the time.
Jackson also previously told Los Angeles Times that he would rather work on blockbuster Marvel films than seek out potentially Oscar-winning roles.
“As much as I wanted to be tired of it, you know thinking, 'Well, I should have won an Oscar for this or I should have won for that, and it didn't happen.' Once I got over all that, many years ago, it wasn't a big deal to me,” The hateful eight the actor told the outlet in 2022. “I always have fun going to the Oscars. I look forward to receiving a gift basket for being a presenter. I give things to my relatives; my daughter and wife took things out. It's beautiful. … But otherwise, I was over it.”
Jackson continued: “I would never let the Oscars be a measure of my success or failure as an actor. The measure of my success is my happiness: am I satisfied with what I am doing? I'm not going to make movies about chasing statues. You know, “If you make this movie, you'll win an Oscar.” No thank you. I'd rather be Nick Fury. Or have fun as Mace Windu with a lightsaber in hand.”