If you've read any of the reviews of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” you probably realize that this isn't your typical Marvel Studios superhero flick. Well, you're not alone. Samuel L. Jackson, who sat down to chat with HitFix about “Winter Soldier” a few weeks ago, received a pleasant surprise when the script for the movie came across his desk.
“I realized when I was reading it that it was going to take a bit more thought from the audience coming in watching this movie than watching popcorn and watching things blowup,” Jackson says. “I like the fact that it is a political thriller and there is this conflict between Nick and Captain America about freedom and the whole concept of what freedom means and how someone maintains it.”
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, “The Winter Soldier” features the mysterious return of a longtime colleague of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), but the main storyline finds S.H.I.E.L.D. at a dangerous crossroads. Fury, director of the world spy organization, is readying a new mechanism to battle terrorism and “super” threats before they happen. The project puts many civil liberties at risk and doesn't sit well with our hero, Captain America.
Jackson, blunt as always, told HiFix that even after playing Fury seven times (credited and uncredited) Marvel still leaves him in the dark as to their future plans for the character. He notes, “They just send me a script or call me and tell me to be somewhere and I show up.”
Don't take his candor as dissatisfaction with the arrangement.
“I'm fine. I know I owe them a certain number of pictures and that happens,” Jackson says. “I have fun going to work every day. If I wasn't having fun I'd quit. When it ceases to be fun I'll stop. But, no I'm having a great time.”
For more on Jackson's thoughts on “Winter Soldier” including some spoiler-ish comments on Fury's future, watch the interview embedded at the top of this post.
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” opens nationwide and in IMAX on Friday.