Iron Man may be the first hero to appear on-screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it was arguably Samuel L. Jackson who actually created that shared cinematic universe when he uttered those now-famous words “I’m here to talk to you about the Avengers Initiative” in 2008. And now, after co-starring and cameoing in more than half the MCU titles since (not to mention “dying” in two movies), Jackson is finally going to headline one of his own!
That’s the word this weekend past from Variety who claim to have heard from multiple sources that the 71-year-old actor will be reprising his fan-favourite role as the MCU’s one-eyed superspy in an upcoming Nick Fury TV series on Disney+. Story details are non-existent right now, but it’s believed that Mr Robot writer/producer Kyle Bradstreet is attached as showrunner. Disney and Marvel are yet to officially confirm the report.
I’ll be guessing that this series will be set way down the line in the MCU though. Marvel boss Kevin Feige has already laid out the comic book film studio’s Disney+ series plans for the next few years (WandaVision, The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, Ms Marvel, She-Hulk, Moon Knight), and they don’t include a Nick Fury show.
On top of that, the last time we saw Jackson in the role was [SPOILER ALERT] during the post-credits scene of last year’s Spider-Man: Far From Home where it was revealed that the Fury who had been dealing with Spidey throughout the movie was actually the Skrull shapeshifter Talos (whom Fury met in his younger years during the events of the 1990s-set Captain Marvel) while the real Fury was seemingly on a vacation in deep space on a Skrull spaceship. It’s believed that this scene will somehow link up with the upcoming Captain Marvel 2 which will almost certainly not take place on Earth as well. So either this newly revealed series deals with those same cosmic events or we’ll only be catching up to Fury when he’s back on-planet.
Just how Jackson first came to play Nick Fury is fun little anecdote as traditionally the character in the comics is an older white guy. However, in the early 2000s, Marvel Comics launched the Marvel Ultimate imprint in which they rebooted a number of their biggest characters with modern sensibilities and no complex continuity in order to draw in new readers. And for the Ultimates, the Marvel Ultimate version of the Avengers, writer Mark Millar and artist Bryan Hitch wanted to give their comic a blockbuster feel similar to how they thought an Avengers live-action movie would play out. As part of this, they decided to model their new new version of Fury on the prolific movie star who Millar called “the coolest man alive”. And they did it without Jackson’s permission.
When Jackson, an avid comic book reader, found out that his likeness was used, he loved it. But he still contacted Marvel at the time and said they could only keep using his face if he had a first refusal option to any film in which they wanted to use Nick Fury (in other words, they have to offer him the role before anybody else) Of course, at the time, the MCU was still just a pipe dream so not much was thought of agreeing to Jackson’s terms, but six years later, production on Iron Man came around and Jackson actually agreed when offered the role, signing a nine-film deal. Jackson’s subsequent portrayal on-screen of Fury has been so popular, that the mainstream Marvel Comics universe version of Nick Fury has since also been rebooted to boast a strong resemblance.
Jackson’s deal with Marvel actually expired with Captain Marvel, but he has indicated that he enjoys playing the role so much that he will continue to do so when needed. And that apparently includes a TV series.
Last Updated: September 28, 2020
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 09:09
What manner of sorcery does he employ to still look like THAT at 71?
For the Emperor!
September 28, 2020 at 09:58
Lack of hair makes it easier…I hope my soon to be complete tack will also help me look that young at his age! Also, facial hair that is dyed helps him as well, and wearing black 🙂
Krabby Paddy
September 28, 2020 at 09:58
All that swearing is probably stress relieving and helps keep him looking young.
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 10:21
Then why don’t I look like a toddler?
Krabby Paddy
September 28, 2020 at 10:32
I don’t know, evidently you are being hard done by. I think you should take that up with life and throw a good temper tantrum about it!
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 10:40
That’s IT! Had enough!
Screw you, life, I’m taking my ball and I’m going home.
Krabby Paddy
September 28, 2020 at 11:19
Now the true toddler way would be to stomp your feet, crying and screaming for life to give you the ball. Then when life does, you kick the ball away in anger. The ball flies into a thorn bush and then you bawl your eyes out and scream even more that your ball is now broken and demand life to get you a new one. Then when life does so, you notch up the crying and screaming to another level because the new ball is not the one you wanted and that everything is life’s fault and you hate it.
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 11:19
Your familiarity with toddler behaviour is telling…
Krabby Paddy
September 28, 2020 at 11:47
First hand experience helps but on the otherhand the internet also proves to me everyday that this behaviour is not actually exclusive to toddlers.
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 11:47
That’s because those internet people never had to grow up, so they never did.
HvR
September 28, 2020 at 11:19
I try to go full on poena skoolhoof at least once a week as stress relief
https://youtu.be/ZIxYW1Dyhm4?t=66
For the Emperor!
September 28, 2020 at 09:58
Lack of hair makes it easier…I hope my soon to be complete tack will also help me look that young at his age! Also, facial hair that is dyed helps him as well, and wearing black 🙂
Du4098
September 28, 2020 at 09:25
As much as I love the MCU, I’m starting to worry that there’s going to be too much to keep track of. Wandavision, F&WS, Hawkeye, Loki, She Hulk, Moon Knight and now Fury. Not to mention all the upcoming movies. I’m all for world building but damn this is starting to feel like Disney greed at its worst.
Kervyn Cloete
September 28, 2020 at 11:18
People who were put off by having to keep track of it all (like our very own Geoff), already probably bailed on half the movies by now. They didn’t care for this approach back then already, so going forward you probably won’t see much change. The hardcore audience will stay hardcore.
My biggest concern though is how the Disney+ series and movies will now feed into and play off of each other. In the past, the Marvel TV series only linked up tangentially. Now they’re essential viewing. And that would be awesome except for the fact that we don’t have Disney+ and won’t have for at least another year.
COVID-19 has actually helped us a bit here by pushing back release dates, but it still means that any local Marvel fan who actually wants to get the full picture of what is happening in the MCU is probably going to resort to unsavoury means to access these shows.
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 09:58
In their defence, it is pretty much what the comics do.
Multiple titles running concurrently that occasionally overlap.
Du4098
September 28, 2020 at 10:13
Yeah very true but is it sustainable in this medium? Marvel and DC can’t go 5 minutes without rebooting their comic book universes because things get so muddled. My worry is that the mass majority start getting MCU fatigue and the popularity slowly fizzles out.
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 10:13
I hear what you saying and yes, there is danger to it.
But if they keep the quality high enough, people will still watch.
That being said, the superhero movie/series trend will pass. These things always do.
I mentioned a while back that Hollywood used to pump out many MANY Westerns. But not anymore.
For the Emperor!
September 28, 2020 at 10:13
Yeah, we need a My Name is Trinity remake soon. Just kidding, that movie is perfect. But would like me some new Spaghetti Westerns.
Original Heretic
September 28, 2020 at 10:21
I honestly believe it comes down the stories kids are told and consume (in whatever format) that affects the movies that come out in later years.
They grow up wanting more of what they loved as kids.
Du4098
September 28, 2020 at 11:47
Yeah for sure. I can see an example of that in my own kids as young as they are.
Du4098
September 28, 2020 at 10:28
You’re absolutely right and TBH I’m surprised how long the comic book trend has endured.
Can only hope we get many more years of high quality content.
Kervyn Cloete
September 28, 2020 at 11:18
People who were put off by having to keep track of it all (like our very own Geoff), already probably bailed on half the movies by now. They didn’t care for this approach back then already, so going forward you probably won’t see much change. The hardcore audience will stay hardcore.
My biggest concern though is how the Disney+ series and movies will now feed into and play off of each other. In the past, the Marvel TV series only linked up tangentially. Now they’re essential viewing. And that would be awesome except for the fact that we don’t have Disney+ and won’t have for at least another year.
COVID-19 has actually helped us a bit here by pushing back release dates, but it still means that any local Marvel fan who actually wants to get the full picture of what is happening in the MCU is probably going to resort to unsavoury means to access these shows.
Du4098
September 28, 2020 at 11:47
I’ve always been a fan of the ‘Big Picture’ approach but I do sympathise with the casual viewers. I often find myself explaining the timeline to my friends who just watch these movies for a good time. I can only imagine that getting even more prevalent now with the Disney+ shows.
Yeah, it’s a real bummer but all I can say to that at this point is “Argh Matey… it’s a pirates life for me.”
Iskape
September 28, 2020 at 12:28
Personally, I’m just not overly excited anymore about mainstream comics. I’m enjoying the series of the lesser known comics/graphics novels – The Umbrella Academy, The Boys, etc.
Du4098
September 28, 2020 at 12:28
Umbrella Academy and The Boys are two incredible shows. I love how unpredictable and chaotic things tend to get in both those shows. The MCU formula has become incredibly predictable.
For the Emperor!
September 28, 2020 at 09:58
100% will watch!