Skip to main content Games Radar Retro Gamer Total Film The smarter take on movies Search GamesRadar+ View Profile Tabletop Gaming Toys & Collectibles Newsletters Retro Gamer Gaming Magazines Why subscribe? Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99View Best Netflix Movies Best movies on Disney Plus Movie Release Dates Best Netflix Shows Entertainment Action Movies Marvel Movies Samuel L. Jackson shares the best advice that Bruce Willis gave him after making bad movies, and it led him to Nick Fury Fay Watson 20 March 2025 The Hollywood legend gave him some stellar advice When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Marvel Studios) Marvel star Samuel L. Jackson has revealed the advice that Bruce Willis once gave him. The action legend gave Jackson a nudge towards finding a role that he could return to when they bonded on the Die Hard With a Vengeance – and it all led him to playing Nick Fury in the MCU. "He told me, 'Hopefully you’ll be able to find a character that, when you make bad movies and they don’t make any money, you can always go back to this character everybody loves,'" Jackson recalled to Vanity Fair. "He said, 'Arnold’s got Terminator. Sylvester’s got Rocky and Rambo. I’ve got John McClane.' I’m like, 'Oh, okay.' And it didn’t occur to me until I got that Nick Fury role – and I had a nine-picture deal to be Nick Fury – that, 'Oh, I’m doing what Bruce said. I’ve got this character now.'" Jackson shared the insight to mark Willis' 70th birthday in a special piece on Vanity Fair. You may like That Captain America: Brave New World cameo changed several times, but it was always going to be that character Captain America star Anthony Mackie was convinced Sam Wilson was going to die in Avengers: Endgame: "They're getting rid of me, man" This isn't the only time that the actor has reminisced on his time playing the MCU's handler. Last year, when speaking to GQ, Jackson joked that he didn't think he'd live long enough to fulfil his nine-picture deal with Marvel. "I knew I had a nine picture deal when Kevin said, he was like, ‘We wanna offer you a nine picture deal’ I was like, 'How long I gotta stay alive to make nine movies?'" he explained. "It's not the quickest process in the world and people don't do it, so I didn't know they were gonna make nine movies in like two and a half years. Which is kind of crazy. I was like 'Oh shit, I'm using up my contracts!' but it worked out." For more on all things MCU, check out our guide to upcoming Marvel movies and our breakdown of how to watch the Marvel movies in order. Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. See more Movies News Social Links Navigation Deputy Entertainment Editor I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. That Captain America: Brave New World cameo changed several times, but it was always going to be that character Captain America star Anthony Mackie was convinced Sam Wilson was going to die in Avengers: Endgame: "They're getting rid of me, man" Harrison Ford hopes that he doesn't "disappoint" fellow Marvel star Mark Ruffalo with his performance as Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World Ridley Scott says Blade Runner's financiers didn't know who Harrison Ford was and the director had the perfect response: "You're going to find out" Harrison Ford hopes Red Hulk can return after Captain America: Brave New World – and pays tribute to William Hurt Harrison Ford defends Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in the most Harrison Ford way: "S*** happens" Latest in Marvel Movies Samuel L. Jackson shares the best advice that Bruce Willis gave him after making bad movies, and it led him to Nick Fury Marvel fans have a new theory about which member of the X-Men Sadie Sink could be playing in Spider-Man 4 – and it's not Jean Grey Spider-Man 4 release date, cast, plot theories, and everything else we know about the Marvel movie Marvel fans are talking about the biggest mistakes the MCU has made - and everyone seems to agree on one particularly tragic moment Giancarlo Esposito confirms he was originally set to play Marvel's King Cobra in Captain America: Brave New World: "It was a bit of a whirlwind" Sadie Sink addresses Marvel casting rumors after Jean Grey and Spider-Man 4 reports Latest in News Samuel L. Jackson shares the best advice that Bruce Willis gave him after making bad movies, and it led him to Nick Fury John Cena comedy Coyote Vs. Acme might come out after all, over a year after it was controversially shelved Assassin's Creed Shadows' "Canon Mode" gives you the official RPG experience – but it'll cost you almost every romance option Frank Castle and Matt Murdock's reunion in Daredevil: Born Again was originally meant to happen in a later episode Ben Stiller says it won't take another three years to make the third season of Severance, teasing they're "announcing what the plan is very soon" Rapture's number one fan Jack Quaid is back with a perfect idea for a BioShock TV show More about marvel movies Spider-Man 4 release date, cast, plot theories, and everything else we know about the Marvel movie Marvel fans have a new theory about which member of the X-Men Sadie Sink could be playing in Spider-Man 4 – and it's not Jean Grey All Gansenji temple lost pages in Assassin's Creed Shadows See more latest Most Popular Frank Castle and Matt Murdock's reunion in Daredevil: Born Again was originally meant to happen in a later episode Hideo Kojima knows fans thought Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes was too short, as he thinks back to negative comments: "'Why would they sell a trial version even at a low price?'" Assassin's Creed Shadows' "Canon Mode" gives you the official RPG experience – but it'll cost you almost every romance option John Cena comedy Coyote Vs. Acme might come out after all, over a year after it was controversially shelved The RTX 5060 Ti allegedly isn't coming until mid-April but a delay could help Nvidia's dreadful stock situation Rapture's number one fan Jack Quaid is back with a perfect idea for a BioShock TV show Ben Stiller says it won't take another three years to make the third season of Severance, teasing they're "announcing what the plan is very soon" Valve literally gives Half-Life away now, but 27 years ago it was carefully crushing its angry pirates: "None of them had actually bought the game" Blizzard came up with Diablo 4's most powerful item modifiers at the last minute: "Literally, we had 2 weeks left in the development schedule" Almost 90 years of DC history will be refined into an official timeline in New History of the DC Universe: "It's a chance to realign all of DC's sprawling continuity into one master timeline" GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS inZOI review: "Currently feels like a soulless imitation of the worst parts of The Sims" Assassin's Creed Shadows review: "More confidence, texture, and purpose than we've seen since Assassin's Creed pivoted into RPG territory" HeroQuest review: "The grandaddy of dungeon crawlers" Talisman 5th Edition review: "The characterful imperfections of the original game remain clear to see " WWE 2K25 review: "A colossal package even if you never go anywhere near Virtual Currency" The Electric State review: "Although this may be their most visually stunning movie yet, it looks like the Russos are yet to find their footing outside of the MCU" Fight or Flight review: "Slick and silly action sequences garner well-earned John Wick and Bullet train comparisons" Mickey 17 Review: "Bong Joon Ho's best English movie to date and arguably Robert Pattinson's best movie ever" Captain America: Brave New World review: "Anthony Mackie's Cap earns his Stars and Stripes in this uneven, un-MCU thriller" The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep review – "A satisfying new anime adventure that harks back to the Netflix series' heyday" Daredevil: Born Again season 1 review: "There have been far worse Marvel projects, but few as disappointing as this" Reacher season 3 review: "Alan Ritchson's hero still rules as we get the best season yet" Yellowjackets season 3 review: "At its best when it leans all the way into its kookier – and scarier – side" Cobra Kai season 6, part 3 review: "Puts a near-perfect bow on Cobra Kai and the Karate Kid series" Invincible season 3 review: "Bigger, better, faster, stronger" GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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