Samuel L Jackson is best known for his work as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that doesn’t mean he does not have other entertaining-as-hell projects to his name. Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction, and The Hateful Eight are just a few films out of his extensive filmography which speak volumes about his skills as an actor.
Owing to his on-screen personality, one might think that Jackson is a serious guy who does not mess around. However, this could not be farther from the truth. The actor does not shy away from doing films just for the fun of it, no matter how many people call it a bad idea. For example, his willingness to be in Snakes on a Plane was looked down upon by many, but that didn’t stop him from going ahead with it!
Samuel L Jackson Didn’t Let Others Get to Him
When Samuel L Jackson came across Snakes on a Place on the Internet, he just knew he had to be in it. Add to that the fact that his friend, Ronnie Yu was directing it, and you best believe Jackson was absolutely sold on the idea.
However, it wasn’t easy for many to swallow that Jackson was going to be a part of a film that could potentially harm his career. But, of course, he didn’t care one bit. Talking to Entertainment Weekly, Jackson stated that even his agents and managers were against the idea.
“Sure! My agents were like, ‘Did you really tell Ronnie Yu you wanted to make a movie called Snakes on a Plane?’ [But] my agents and managers have finally figured out that I’m pretty much going to do what I want to do…Every now and then I want to do a movie that’s just – it doesn’t mean the end of the world…I’m doing movies for other people to go see and have some fun because I want to go see them and have some fun. It’s just that simple.”
Not only did his team not think it was the best idea to do the film but the critics thought he was too big of an actor to be a part of Snakes on a Plane. In an interview with Black Film, Jackson stated that he felt sorry for all those who questioned his integrity because of the decision.
“I feel sorry for all those people who questioned my integrity for doing something like this. A lot of people. Online, offline, critics, you know people do. I’ve read that stuff and it’s fine, people are entitled to their opinions but it’s a sad state of affairs when you’re going to tell me that an actor of my status shouldn’t do something like that. I’m an actor. I do the kind of films I want to do and enjoyed going to the movies and watching movies like that when I was a kid.”
Well, there you go. No matter how big of a star Jackson is, if he wants to do a film, there is nothing you can do to stop him. Guess defying all odds is what being an actor is really about!
Why Samuel L Jackson Threatened to Quit the Film
Given the fact that Jackson was so invested in the movie, it is weird that he would want to call quits on it. Well, he had a pretty solid reason to do so! The Pulp Fiction actor was initially interested in the movie because of its title. He told Entertainment Weekly, “Snakes on a Plane. I thought, ‘Oh sh*t, I need to be in that!”
So when he walked onto the set and was handed the script, the papers read, Pacific Flight 121. That’s where Jackson drew the line and threatened that he would walk out of there if they changed the name.
“The first day I got there, they were passing out new pages and they gave me this script that said Pacific Flight 121. And I’m like, ‘The f**k is this?’”
When the studios told him that they changed the title as it was a spoiler, Jackson said,
“You exactly want to do that! I’m not here to do Pacific Flight 121, I’m here to do Snakes on a Plane, and if that’s the name of the movie, I quit.”
While the film couldn’t make big bucks at the box office, making only $62 million worldwide, it’s safe to say that Jackson had a blast filming it! After all, he stuck by the film’s side even when Yu was replaced by David R. Ellis.
You can stream Snakes on a Plane on Prime Video.
Source: Black Film
