Samuel L. Jackson wasn’t entirely convinced he would live long enough to make his contracted Marvel movies. As arguably one of the busiest actors working in the film industry. He has appeared in just about every genre and has been lucky enough to be involved in several tentpole releases and major IPs. Not many performers can say they’ve been a part of the Star Wars universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Jackson can claim both in his filmography. His time with the MCU began with a cameo appearance in 2008’s Iron Man as Nick Fury, which kicked off a nine-picture contract to play the character. However, this was something the actor questioned was even possible to complete before his time on this Earth came to an end.

During a discussion with GQ Magazine about his career, Jackson spoke about his initial nine-picture deal to portray Nick Fury in the MCU and the actor admitted how long he would need to stay alive to finish all the movies. He believed movies of this scope would take way more time to complete, but he ended up being surprised by the speed at which he blasted through the films that he initially signed up for.

“I knew I had a nine-picture deal. [Marvel Studios president] Kevin [Feige] said: ‘We’re going to offer you a nice-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 sh*t, I’m using up my contracts. It worked out.”

Samuel Jackson Has Been a Marvel Staple Since 2008

Jackson’s time as Nick Fury may have started with a small cameo appearance at the end of 2008’s Iron Man, which set him up as the puppet master that would ultimately put The Avengers together. His role was expanded upon in Iron Man 2 and, since then, he has appeared in Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Secret Invasion and The Marvels. While his appearance in future Marvel projects has not yet been confirmed, it seems unlikely that he will be stepping away from the franchise just yet.

What Jackson has shown over the years since joining the MCU, is an unwavering love for playing Nick Fury and for Marvel as a whole. The actor has been lucky enough to work with the likes of Spike Lee, George Lucas, and Quentin Tarantino, to name a few, but he has never diminished what the MCU has meant for his career. In fact, he has previously said he would rather make these big blockbuster movies than waste time chasing an Academy Award.

“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.”

Oddly enough, Jackson is in an upcoming film that is generating early Oscar buzz. He stars in the Netflix release, The Piano Lesson, an adaptation of the 1987 play by August Wilson. The film is set in 1936 Pittsburgh in the wake of the Great Depression and follows the Charles family, living with Doaker Charles (Jackson) as the focus turns to a family heirloom, a piano, made special because it’s decorated with designs created by one of their enslaved ancestors. In addition to Jackson, the film also stars John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler and Corey Hawkins.

The Piano Lesson
hits Netflix on Nov. 22.