Now 74, Samuel L. Jackson shows no signs no slowing down as an actor. After “Secret Invasion,” Jackson’s latest stint as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury, wraps next week, he’ll star again as Fury in “The Marvels” this Fall. After that, the actor also has Matthew Vaughn‘s long-awaited “Argylle,” “Garfield,” “The Kill Room” and more on deck. So has Jackson done all he’s wanted to in the MCU? According to the actor, not even close.
In a new interview with Vulture, Jackson opened up on the one big thing he’s never done as Nick Fury: go to Wakana. When asked about whether he has any input on Nick Fury’s character development, Jackson curtly replied, “Well, no. Or you would’ve seen my ass in Wakanda.” So why hasn’t Fury been the home country of Black Panther yet? “I don’t know!” exclaimed the actor. “I asked many times, ‘When do I get to go to Wakanda?’ And they’re like, ‘No.’ ‘Why? I know Wakanda is there. And I know about T’Challa. Who do I never encounter them?'”
According to Jackson, Kevin Feige and co. have never given him an adequate answer. They were like, ‘We’ll see,'” Jackson continued. “Don Cheadle and Anthony Mackie — all the Black people in the Marvel universe are like, ‘Wakanda. Do we get to chill in Wakanda?’ Until Tony Stark’s funeral. That’s the only time you’ve seen Nick Fury and all those guys around each other at one time.” So when’s an upcoming Marvel series or film where Fury could go to Wakanda, if it ever happens? Nothing stands out on the Phase 5 and 6 release schedules at the moment, but maybe an upcoming “Avengers” movie will see Jackson finally see his MCU dream come true.
As for Jackson’s other upcoming projects, rumors abound that he’ll join Quentin Tarantino for the director’s tenth and final film “The Movie Critic.” Any merit to those stories? Jackson is staying mum on that front. When Vulture asked if he’s talked to QT about the upcoming film, Jackson slyly responded, “No comment,” laughing. The interviewer pressed the actor, saying that he hopes Jackson will be in it, mainly because him and Tarantino broke out as stars at the same time. To which Jackson replied, “Feels like it. But when I saw “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” I mean, how many Black people are in that movie? Maybe three. It was kind of like watching “Goodfellas.” When I was in “Goodfellas,” it’s like me and somebody else.
Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean Jackson won’t show up in “The Movie Critic.” And Tarantino hasn’t even made any casting announcements for the film yet either. The director likely won’t any time soon, though, with the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. QT had initially planned to start shooting “The Movie Critic” this Fall, but with the ongoing picket lines, don’t expect production to start on his cinematic grand finale until the guilds meet their terms.
As for Jackson? Well, Hulu will have the first three episodes of “Secret Invasion” on their streaming platform starting tomorrow. All three episodes will be available to watch on the streamer until August 17. Take a look at a plug for the streaming crossover below.