Jackson Might Not Play Nick Fury

Despite having the updated version of legendary superagent based on him in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics, Marvel may be balking at paying for Samuel L. Jackson to play S.H.I.E.L.D. hero Nick Fury in an upcoming Avengers film.

And Jackson seems angry about it, according to a story in the L. A. Times.

"There was a huge kind of negotiation that broke down," Jackson said. "I don't know. Maybe I won't be Nick Fury. Maybe somebody else will be Nick Fury or maybe Nick Fury won't be in it. There seems to be an economic crisis in the Marvel Comics world so [they're saying to me], 'We're not making that deal.'"

Marvel is indicating relations are ongoing, so it's possible this is a stunt by the studio or Jackson or both as part of negotiations. Jackson has already played Fury in a post-credits cameo tucked away at the end of Iron Man.

This follows news that high-priced co-star Terrence Howard is being replaced for Iron Man 2 by Don Cheadle, reportedly because of money. Marvel does have some star-power budgeting to be concerned about: as the Times points out, an Avengers movie will involve shelling out for Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Edward Norton (Hulk), and presumably Jackson as Fury, plus name actors for Captain America and Thor, both of whom will have separate introductory films in 2011 and 2010.

Only Jackson, though, has already been indelibly incorporated into the comics themselves.