After the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home will serve as both an epilogue to the last 11 years of MCU films and a prologue to the next major story arc. Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury has been around since the beginning and is looking forward to staying around as long as he can. Screen Rant recently got the opportunity to sit down with both Samuel L. Jackson and Jake Gyllenhaal and discussed Nick Fury’s evolving relationship with Peter and Mysterio’s new relationship with him.
First of all, congratulations on the film. Amazing job. With Marvel movies I already get excited, but even leaving this movie, I was more excited than going in. Which is kind of crazy to me. Marvel’s changed the game when it comes to villains, with Kilmonger and Thanos. For [Jake], I’ve got to ask you, how was the personal challenge taking on a role like Mysterio?
Jake Gyllenhaal: In the comics, he's an antagonist and he's a villain. To me, I thought the take on him as really a hero and joining up with Spider-Man in this movie to fight the real enemy was really interesting. To me, I find sometimes the idea of a character to be too on the nose, particularly when you’re dealing with mythology and that kind of thing. And he was a much more complicated character than that, so it was really fun. It allowed for a lot of different room, but I loved a different take on a character that people would expect one thing from but they’re going to get another.
It’s brilliantly written, too, that character. Sam, you’ve been in the MCU for awhile now, and your interaction with Peter Parker is a lot different from other characters we’ve seen. He genuinely fears you.
Samuel L. Jackson: And nobody else does?! It’s just him?
They definitely respect you! But he genuinely fears you, so talk to me about how Fury sees Peter.
Samuel L. Jackson: I’m assessing him. I respect what Stark said about him, but Tony is Tony and he sees things differently from everybody else. So he tells me this kid is the future, it’s like, “Okay, let’s see.” Well, first of all, he’s ghosting me. So that’s a problem. And second of all, when I do finally get a hold of him, he’s not mature in a way that we need him to be. He’s not taking what I’m saying seriously, in a way, because he seriously wants to be a kid. He’s being clouded by his hormones, which is typical, so I really don’t think he’s ready for the responsibility that Tony tells me he’s ready for.
Earlier today, Kevin told me a story about Tom. He said that when Tom got the role of Spider-Man, he wrote down things he wanted to accomplish in a year. And one of the things on the list was actually working with you Jake, I’m not sure if you knew that or not.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Now with the press junket, I’ve heard that a couple of times.
The question I have is, whenever we’ve seen Spider-Man since Civil War, he’s been looking for a father figure. Talk to me about Quentin’s relationship with Peter.
Jake Gyllenhaal: It’s interesting, because Tom refers to it as [if] they’re brothers: an older brother to a younger brother. And I agree with that. I think the thing about the two of them is that Quentin and Peter have similar backgrounds. They’ve come from similar places, they share a lot in common. But obviously Quentin’s had a lot more experience. When he first arrives, he’s come from this other Earth. He’s been a soldier on another Earth, and he’s seen a lot of horrific things. And he’s seen these creatures destroy his world, and he’s lost a lot. I think they really become friends, and brothers in a lot of ways, through that loss and through the understanding of that. They become fast friends. They’re forced to work together obviously, because Nick Fury’s saying, “You gotta do this thing.” But I think if it weren’t for Quentin and the history he has, I don’t think it would be as easy for Peter to join up and fight in the same way. So in that way, they’re brothers and he looks up to him.
Sam, last question for you. To me, you’re the glue of the MCU. It’s been 11 years with the Marvel Universe, what are the chances I get you for at least 10 more? I want you for 10 more years in the MCU.
Samuel L. Jackson: Chance is pretty good. I’m feeling okay. I hope that’s alright. Tell Kevin not to kill me, and we’ll be good.
