“The fact that they replaced OG Nick Fury… legit pisses me off”: Samuel L. Jackson Fans Won’t Like It, But Nick Fury Sr. Makes MCU’s Nick Fury Look Like an Amateur

Nicholas Joseph Fury or Nick Fury is one of the most iconic characters in Marvel Comics as well as the MCU. While the Marvel comic book readers loved his cool demeanor, tactical brilliance, and commanding presence, Samuel L. Jackson’s cinematic portrayal made him a household name. However, it must be noted that there is a striking contrast between the OG Nick Fury Sr. and the version of the character that we witness in the MCU.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in Secret Invasion | Credits: Marvel Studios / Disney+

When the James Bond-esque S.H.I.E.L.D. agent was first introduced in the comics, he was a White man who fought in World War II and was a leader of the Howling Commandos. Later when he became a being called the Unseen, he was succeeded by his son who became Nick Fury Jr.

But Nick Fury Jr. failed to impress most audiences and many fans felt it was mainly done for MCU synergy. A new internet debate states that the OG Nick Fury Sr. remains the gold standard, and even the MCU version cannot match it.

Is Nick Fury Sr. superior to every version of the character yet?

Nick Fury Sr. in Marvel Comics

For the fans still confused about the eye-patched Marvel character, there has been more than one version of the character in the comics. Besides Nick Fury Sr., or the OG version existing in Marvel Comics’ Earth 616, there is also another version of the character, modeled after Samuel L. Jackson in an alternate timeline called the Ultimate Universe.

Marvel Comics maintained a difference between the Nick Fury of the Ultimate Universe and Earth-616 for a long time. However, to maintain uniformity with the MCU, the comics introduced Nick Fury Sr.’s son, Marcus Johnson aka Nick Fury Jr. in the main timeline. Although this character shared more resemblance to the MCU version, numerous fans disliked him.

Nick Fury Jr. in the Marvel Comics

Recently, a post by a netizen @Sergeant Herc raised a buzz on X that stated that Marvel ruined Nick Fury Sr. for MCU synergy. It cannot be denied that Jackson brought his style to the character and made him one of the most memorable figures from the Infinity Saga. Nevertheless, no matter how much the Pulp Fiction actor’s fandom hates to admit it, the feats of Nick Fury Sr. make him superior to the live-action portrayal.

Besides his massive set of badass weaponry and devices, Nick Fury Sr. possessed a strong will and fighting skills that made him a master of espionage. As a leader of the Howling Commandos, he had been a part of some of the most dangerous missions. Nick Fury Sr. had some of the strongest foes like Red Skull and Dormmamu. On the other hand, he had also joined hands with figures like Captain America, Logan, and Mister Fantastic.

Contrary to MCU’s Nick Fury who lost his eye due to a scratch by Goose, Nick Fury Sr.’s left eye was injured by a grenade blast during World War II. It is also important to note that Samuel L. Jackson has lost much importance in the recent projects of the MCU. While Secret Invasion and The Marvels were meant to bring him back to the limelight, they failed badly.

Samuel L. Jackson wants to reprise his role in the MCU

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in The Avengers | Credits: Marvel Studios

The MCU has primarily focused on Samuel L. Jackson’s strategist side as he assembled the Avengers. We also got a memorable performance by him in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Even though Secret Invasion was also supposed to be such a grounded story, focusing on the badassery of Nick Fury, it failed to match our expectations.

Following that, The Marvels also could not present him in a more serious light. But despite everything, the actor is still willing to reprise his role in the MCU. In an interview with Empire Magazine, he stated:

I love playing him, and I love the fact that they’re opening him up to all these other possibilities and this whole life that he has. So hopefully, I’m not done, and in this new phase of the MCU, I’ll still be floating in and out of there somehow, some way.

With so many characters in the sandbox, it will be interesting to see how Marvel Studios frames the future for the spy. However, there are many grounded MCU projects in the pipeline, which may open up a possibility for Nick Fury to come back.

All the projects in the MCU can be streamed on Disney+.