"Samuel L. Jackson Shares Bruce Willis' Die Hard Advice, Realizes Its Value with MCU's Nick Fury Deal"

In a candid revelation to Vanity Fair for Bruce Willis' 70th birthday celebration, Samuel L. Jackson shared a piece of sage advice he received from Willis while filming the 1994 blockbuster "Die Hard With a Vengeance." Willis advised Jackson to find a character that would remain beloved by audiences, ensuring a steady career even if other projects didn't succeed financially. Willis illustrated his point with examples: "Arnold [Schwarzenegger]’s got Terminator. Sylvester [Stallone]’s got Rocky and Rambo. I’ve got John McClane." This advice didn't resonate with Jackson until he landed the role of Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Jackson's journey as Nick Fury began with a cameo in the post-credits scene of 2008's "Iron Man," leading to a full-fledged role in 2010's "Iron Man 2." Since then, Jackson has reprised the iconic character in 10 films, three TV series, and two video games. His most recent performances include roles in the 2023 film "The Marvels," the series "Secret Invasion," and a voice appearance in the Season 2 finale of the animated series "Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur."

Reflecting on his nine-picture deal with Marvel, Jackson humorously pondered his longevity in an interview with GQ in September 2024. Initially, he questioned how long he would need to live to complete the contract, not realizing the rapid pace at which Marvel produces films. "I knew I had a nine-picture deal when Kevin [Feige] said, 'We wanna offer you a nine-picture deal.' I was like, 'How long I gotta stay alive to make nine movies?'" Jackson shared. He was surprised to find that Marvel managed to produce nine movies in just two-and-a-half years, quickly exhausting his contract but ultimately proving beneficial for his career.