Samuel L. Jackson is generally known for playing a badass, first strongly associated with Quentin Tarantino films, and now over the past sixteen years, the MCU’s Avengers founder and former leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury.
Going into his first appearance in the role, in the post-credits scene of Iron Man (2008), no one, including Jackson, could have known what was taking off. So when the actor was asked to sign a nine picture deal, he was overwhelmed by the thought.
During a recent interview with GQ (via Variety), Jackson said: “I knew I had a nine-picture deal. [Marvel Studios president] Kevin [Feige] said that: ‘We’re going to offer you a nine-picture deal.’
“How long do you have to stay alive to make nine movies? It’s not the quickest process in the world. I didn’t know they were going to make nine movies in like two and a half years. That’s kind of crazy! Oh shit, I’m using up my contracts. It worked out.”
No one could have foreseen the pace at which we would be seeing those first phases of Marvel role out. But it certainly has worked out for Jackson, who previously told the Los Angeles Times that he’s never lost interest in his Nick Fury role and that he’d rather make billion dollar-grossing Marvel movies than win Oscars or chase down Oscar-baiting roles.
“As jaded as I wanted to be about it, you know thinking, ‘Well, I should have won an Oscar for this or should have won for that and it didn’t happen,’ once I got over it many years ago, it wasn’t a big deal for me.
“I always have fun going to the Oscars. I always look forward to getting a gift basket for being a presenter. I give stuff to my relatives; my daughter and my wife would take stuff out. It’s cool. … But otherwise, I was past it.”
Jackson added: “I was never going to let the Oscars be a measure of my success or failure as an actor. My yardstick of success is my happiness: Am I satisfied with what I’m doing? I’m not doing statue-chasing movies. You know: ‘If you do this movie, you’ll win an Oscar.’ No, thanks. I’d rather be Nick Fury. Or having fun being Mace Windu with a lightsaber in my hand.”
Jackson is so beloved, and has given us so many incredible performances. It’s cool that he’s out there having fun, and isn’t worried about statues. Plus you know he’s making the big bucks he deserves.
Samuel L. Jackson can next be seen in the western The Unholy Trinity, and the sci-fi comedy Afterburn. Those are in post-production, but have not yet been given release dates.
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