Topics: News, Film and TV, Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L Jackson, Celebrity
Samuel L. Jackson has clapped back at Quentin Tarantino’s comments after the director claimed MCU actors are not 'real movie stars'.
Tarantino’s long-time collaborator hasn’t taken too kindly to the director’s swipe at Marvel-ization in Hollywood while speaking with The View.
Jackson, who has appeared in six of Tarantino’s films and plays Avengers founder Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, told the panel: “It takes an actor to be those particular characters, and the sign of movie stardom has always been, what, a**es in seats? What are we talking about?”
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He added: “That’s not a big controversy for me to know that apparently these actors are movie stars.
"Chadwick Boseman is Black Panther. You can’t refute that, and he’s a movie star.”
The Pulp Fiction actor’s remarks come after Tarantino panned the MCU while appearing on Tom Segura’s podcast 2 Bears, 1 Cave.
He told the comedian: "Part of the Marvel-ization of Hollywood is… you have all these actors who have become famous playing these characters.
"But they’re not movie stars. Right? Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star.
"I mean, I’m not the first person to say that."
He continued: "I think that’s been said a zillion times, you know, but, you know, but it’s like, you know, it’s these franchise characters that become a star."
The legendary filmmaker went on to criticize how superhero films are currently saturating the market.
He said: "My only axe to grind against them is they’re the only things that seem to be made.
"And they’re the only things that seem to generate any kind of excitement amongst a fan base or even like for the studio making them.
"That’s what they’re excited about. And, you know, so it’s just the fact that they are the entire representation of this era of movies right now."
He added: "There’s not really much room for anything else. That’s my problem."
But Jackson doesn’t see a problem with this.
The 73-year-old admitted to The Los Angeles Times that he would rather make billion-dollar-grossing Marvel films than go after Oscar-baiting roles.
The actor told the outlet: "I’m not doing statue-chasing movies. You know [whispers]: ‘If you do this movie, you’ll win an Oscar'.
"No, thanks. I’d rather be Nick Fury. Or having fun being Mace Windu with a lightsaber in my hand.”
I mean, getting to have your own purple lightsaber? We can definitely see where he’s coming from.
