‘Captain America: Civil War’ is almost bursting at the seams with cast members. Besides franchise stars Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Scarlett Johansson, Frank Grillo, and Emily VanCamp returning to reprise their roles from ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, old and new faces from all over the Marvel Cinematic Universe like Robert Downey Jr., Chadwick Boseman, Elizabeth Olsen, Daniel Bruhl, Martin Freeman, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, and William Hurt will be thrown into the mix. However, one name is interestingly missing from this star-studded list: Samuel L. Jackson. So far there has been no mention of the veteran actor’s involvement in the third solo film for the Sentinel of Liberty and now we know why.
During an interview with Collider while he was promoting his upcoming film ‘Big Game,’ Jackson revealed that the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. will not be a part of ‘Civil War.’ Of course, it’s not mentioned whether his presence is still felt since the crafty spy always has a hand in something behind the scenes. Either way, here’s what he had to say about Fury’s involvement in the Phase Three kickoff film, as well as his extreme gratitude for being a part of iconic franchises such as the MCU and ‘Star Wars’:
“It’s an amazing amount of fun. I finally met [comics writer] Mark [Millar], last year, when I was doing ‘Kingsman’, ‘cause he was on set one day, and I finally got a chance to thank him for making Nick Fury black and changing the whole dynamic. It’s really great to be the connective tissue between so many different characters in so many different films, that brings those guys together. But I’m not in ‘Captain America 3’. I can’t figure that out, but I’m not. I guess I’m still out there, trying to figure out what happened to S.H.I.E.L.D. and who these other people are.
But it’s an amazing honor to be that guy, to be Nick Fury, to be in that particular world, and to be a character that people believe. It’s great. I’m as grateful for being in that, as I was being in ‘Star Wars’ with George [Lucas] and to play a character that people remember, like Mace Windu. It’s all great. It’s hard not to be a part of something that you know, if people study film for the next 200 years, they’ll be talking about ‘Star Wars’ and ‘The Avengers’ series, and all that stuff.”
Despite Nick Fury’s absence in the next film starring the Star Spangled Avenger, this won’t be the end of Jackson’s involvement in Marvel Studios movies. Out of the nine movies that he’s contracted for, there are still two more appearances left. However, the actor also revealed that he’s very interested in returning to the role as much as possible. In fact, he and the studio are currently looking into a contract extension at the moment, so that’s certainly good news for any True Believers who are fans of Samuel L. Jackson.
Are you disappointed that Nick Fury won’t be in ‘Captain America: Civil War’? Besides ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (which seems like the next logical place to see him), what other Marvel Studios films do you expect to see Samuel L. Jackson in? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below.
‘Captain America: Civil War’ opens in theaters on May 6, 2016.
