Is A Nick Fury Movie From Marvel Confirmed?
by Sean Comer
Since the 2008 "Iron Man" maiden voyage for then-newborn Marvel Studios, the people bringing the comic universe's titans to life haven't made wasted motion a habit. Everything leads somewhere, and nothing happens without method behind the madness.
So when "Captain America: The First Avenger" co-star Neil McDonough says that Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury - played by the never-to-be-f***ed-with-EVER eye-patched Samuel L. Jackson successive cameos - has his own feature debut coming down the pike, it is absolutely believable.
The bad news about that revelation, if there's an iota of it to be found under all those caked-on awesome possibilities, is that we shouldn't hold our collective breaths, reports ScienceFiction.com. McDonough claimed while speaking with IMDB Television that following 2012's tie-in and cameo culmination "The Avengers," the studio will next roll with a "Captain America" sequel, "Thor 2" and a third, possibly final "Iron Man" installment in 2013.
"Hopefully right after that, we'll jump into Nick Fury because that's the one I'm looking forward to more than anything . . . it'll be me and Sam Jackson," McDonough said. "In the real Marvel Universe, Dum-Dum Dugan [McDonough's "Captain America" character] is Nick Fury's right-hand man."
Appropriately, ScienceFiction.com's report advises caution: supporting actors historically aren't always the most in-the-know, especially about something so distant. Plus, this wouldn't be the first time a supporting or co-main character from a Marvel adaptation has been really-for-realsies set for a feature film that never ultimately materialized.
Isn't that right, Silver Surfer fans? Or would people on pins and needles awaiting that promised "X Men Origins: Magneto" movie like to chime in? Oh, while we're at it, what's the word on that "War Machine" movie?
In this case, though, it's entirely plausible. Minor characters who have shown up so far have been shown to have parts yet to play. Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) was in "Thor" but a minute or two, but of course becomes a main "Avengers" character. Similarly, Tim Blake Nelson didn't get much "The Incredible Hulk" screen time as ill-fated Dr. Samuel Sterns but he's rumored to still be wanted for the eventual sequel as The Leader.
Lest we forget, Jackson's own role started with about a minute on-screen after the "Iron Man" credits in one of the most rewarding codas ever filmed. What's more, he'd be about age-appropriate to play the middle-aged civilian Fury of the "Ultimates" comic continuity.
Here's where cautious optimism comes in, though. First off, Marvel hasn't had great luck getting minor, less iconic characters over with audience - even if by "Marvel," I mean in this case "other studios bending perfectly good properties over the table and breaking out the Astroglide." Lionsgate didn't do a bad job with "The Punisher," but it didn't set the box office ablaze and the rebooted "The Punisher: War Zone" did even worse. Twentieth Century Fox, on the other hand, has a losing streak that includes "Daredevil" and "Elektra," both of which could've been just fine.
Also, this wouldn't be the first movie featuring Fury. Nope, way back in 1988, there was "Nick Fury: Agent of Shield", made for TV starring Lisa Rinna and . . .
Oh, it's exactly who it looks like.
The Hoff.
But as in many comics, there's an alternate possibility. Something so potentially amazing, that you may want to deck your computer in cling-wrap before reading McDonough's suggestion. If you've "Pulp Fiction" or the John Singleton "Shaft" remake, your head just may paint the walls.
"I just pray that they have a 1970s setting, because I want to see Sam Jackson with lambchops kicking people's asses for [the] Marvel Universe," McDonough said. "It would just be awesome. And to work with Sam would be a treat."
Let's hope Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has an ear for good ideas. I would try summing up everything so hilariously wrong with The Hoff's take on Fury, but there's a far better reviewer than I that says all that needs saying. Here's a hysterical take from Obscurus Lupa of ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com . . .