Nick Furyactor Samuel L. Jackson reveals he followed Bruce Willis' advice when he got his now iconicMCUrole.Nick Fury has appeared in thirteen MCU titles, from his cameo in 2008’sIron Manto his starring role in 2023’sSecret Invasion. Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury played a key role inthe MCU’s history, as he formed the Avengers and served as a mentor to characters such as Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, and Captain Marvel. Off-screen, Fury also played a role in the Skrulls' conflict with the Kree, which culminated in a secret battle on Earth and the creation of the nearly-invincible Super Skrulls.
In an interview withVanity Fair, Samuel L. Jackson recalls a conversation he had with Bruce Willis over thirty years ago, when Jackson and Willis co-starred inDie Hard With A Vengeance.According to Jackson, Bruce Willis advised him to find a popular role he could reprise at any time. Jackson says Willis mentioned fellow action stars' iconic roles, including Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator and Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa and Rambo. Fortunately for Jackson, he landed the role of the MCU’s Nick Fury before he started his search. Read Samuel L. Jackson’s anecdote below:
“He told me, ‘Hopefully you’ll be able to find a character that, when you make bad movies and they don’t make any money, you can always go back to this character everybody loves,” Jackson recalls. “He said, ‘Arnold’s got Terminator. Sylvester’s got Rocky, Rambo. I’ve got John McClane.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, okay.’ And it didn’t occur to me until I got that Nick Fury role—and I had a nine-picture deal to be Nick Fury—that, Oh, I’m doing what Bruce said. I’ve got this character now.”
What Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury Comments Mean
Nick Fury Was Always The Ideal Role For Samuel L. Jackson
There have been many perfect superhero castings throughout the years, including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. However,Samuel L. Jackson’s casting as Nick Fury is on another level, as Marvel Comics' Ultimate Nick Fury was directly based on Samuel L. Jackson himself years before the MCU began. It only makes sense that Jackson realized he was following Bruce Willis' piece of advice after he signed his nine-movie contract. Nick Fury found Samuel L. Jackson before Jackson could decide to put Willis' advice into practice.
This 3 Minute MCU Phase 2 Scene Is The Best Nick Fury Ever Was (& Samuel L Jackson Agrees)
A 3-minute action sequence in the second phase of the MCU was the best SHIELD’s Nick Fury has ever been (and Samuel L. Jackson knows it too).
After his cameo inIron Man, his supporting role inIron Man 2, and his major role inThe Avengers,Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury became a key piece in the MCU. Unfortunately, Fury has only appeared inSecret Invasionsince Phase 3, and his starring role wasn’t as well received as his previous appearances. The seasoned Nick Fury doesn’t seem to be eager to return to action anytime soon. Nevertheless, Fury is still around if the MCU’s new generation of heroes need him, and the role is still available for Samuel L. Jackson if he wants to return, at least for the time being.
Our Take On Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury Comments
Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury Still Has Potential For More MCU Stories
Samuel L. Jackson made Nick Fury his own, injecting his own brand of humor and pathos into Fury’s characterization and backstory. While the Multiverse Saga could retire Nick Fury for good by killing him off or allowing him to hang up the coat, Samuel L. Jackson’sNick Furystill has plenty of potential for multiple MCU appearances.
Secret Invasion’s endingdidn’t leave Fury’s story on a high note, but there’s still time for him to redeem himself for failing to deliver his promise to the Skrulls. Perhaps forming a new team of Avengers alongside Captain America inAvengers: Doomsdaycould turn things around for the character.
