There are many synonymous faces when it comes to various franchises out there. For Disney, names like Dwayne Johnson, Josh Gad, and Johnny Depp come to mind thanks to their hard work in multiple Disney productions however, when we think about the long arm of Disney, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars galaxy, another name immediately comes into focus—the controversial yet excellent Samuel L Jackson.
Although Jackson is still involved heavily with Disney and the MCU, most recently reprising his famous role of Nick Fury in the MCU, his time as a Jedi Master is all but done, or is it?
Samuel L Jackson: The Foul Mouth of Hollywood
Samuel L Jackson is an iconic and highly acclaimed actor known for his powerful performances and commanding screen presence. He has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable and influential actors with a career spanning several decades.
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Samuel Leroy Jackson was born on December 21, 1948, in Washington, D.C., in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His early interest in acting led him to pursue a degree in Drama at Morehouse College in Atlanta. During his time there, he became involved in the Civil Rights Movement and even served as an usher at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Jackson’s breakthrough role came in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, directed by Quentin Tarantino. In the movie, he played the character of Jules Winnfield, a charismatic hitman with unforgettable lines and a captivating presence. This role earned him critical acclaim and his first Academy Award nomination.
Following his success in Pulp Fiction, Jackson became a sought-after actor in both mainstream and independent films. He has collaborated with renowned directors like Spike Lee, who directed him in films like Do the Right Thing (1989) and Jungle Fever (1991). Jackson’s collaboration with Quentin Tarantino continued with movies like Jackie Brown (1997), Django Unchained (2012), and The Hateful Eight (2015), showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Bringing Together the Avengers
Apart from his film work, Jackson has left a lasting impression on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He portrays the character of Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., in multiple films within the franchise, including the Iron Man (2008) series, Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and The Avengers (2015) series.
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Jackson’s character has been a mainstay in the MCU. Most recently, he’s reprised the role in The Marvels (2023) and on the Disney+ series Secret Invasion (2023). As the Avengers arm of the MCU has been extremely profitable for Marvel Studios, Jackson deserves tons of credit, as his take on the comic character is ultimately responsible for bringing two of the highest-grossing films of all time: Infinity War (2018) and End Game (2019).
A Well-Rounded Career
In addition to his talent on-screen, Samuel L. Jackson has also taken on roles behind the scenes as an executive producer. He has been involved in projects like Afro Samurai (1998), The Sunset Limited (2011), and The Boondocks (2005) further showcasing his diverse range of talents.
Throughout his career, Samuel L. Jackson has received numerous accolades for his performances, including multiple Golden Globe nominations and awards. He’s also worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Morgan Freeman in The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), Bruce Willis in Unbreakable (2000), and Harrison Ford in Patriot Games (1992). He has become known for his distinctive voice, commanding presence, and ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters.
Samuel L Jackson Is ‘Star Wars’
Outside of his work in MCU films like Captain Marvel (2019), Samuel L Jackson is most recognizable as one particular character: Mace Windu.
Wielding a purple lightsaber, the famed actor once sat on the Jedi Council next to other notable Star Wars characters such as Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker.
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Jackson would play the role of the galaxy’s first black Jedi in three separate films, Episode I: The Phantom Mance (1999), Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Although Samuel L Jackson has played multiple prominent roles, been an executive producer, and worked with some of Hollywood’s greatest, most of us know him as the Jedi Master who denied Anakin Skywalker a seat at the table, ultimately leading to his turn to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader.
Jackson’s character would go on to become a fan favorite, earning him a place in future Star Wars projects like Filoni’s animated series, Clone Wars (2014). However, as the character found himself be-handed by Skywalker and pushed from a Coruscant suit window by force lightning in Episode III, many have speculated whether or not Disney and the creative minds behind Lucasfilm would ever bring him back.
Jackson Wants Windu to Return
That was Jackson’s response to questions surrounding his famous Star Wars character recently when speaking to Empire. The True Romance (1993) star didn’t hold back regarding the possibility of returning to a galaxy far, far away to once again play Mace Windu.
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Technically speaking, the former executive producer has a point. Star Wars, in all its intergalactic goodness, has a history of bringing once-dead characters back to life. We’ve seen it with Boba Fett and Emporer Palpatine, so why not Windu?
When further questioned regarding his potential return, explicitly speaking to rumors about a Disney+ show, Samuel L Jackson let loose a loud and definitive, “EVERYTHING YES!!”
As Disney has made the move to focus more on series-based Star Wars content, bringing stories like Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), The Book of Boba Fett (2021), and Ahsoka (2023) to life, a mini-series surrounding the backstory of Mace Windu would be a welcomed watch for Star Wars fans (at least for me).
As for future films, Mace Windu probably wouldn’t work well, although Sam Jackson did have a small cameo in Star Wars: Episode IX: Rise of Skywalker, where his voice can be heard eliciting Rey to rise and defeat the oddly returned Palpatine.
Whether he is portraying a Jedi Master in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, a ruthless supervillain in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), or a mentor figure in Coach Carter (2005), Samuel L Jackson continues to captivate audiences with his unique blend of charisma and talent.
Bringing the Snakes on a Plane (2006) star back for one more Star Wars run could be a home run for Disney, who now owns Lucasfilm. As Samuel Jackson has voiced his interest in returning several times, even commenting on his ability to still wield a lightsaber, now is as good a time as any!