‘Breaking Bad’ Could Have Had An Epic Marvel Crossover Cameo From a Beloved MCU Character
Samuel L. Jackson is one of the greatest and most prolific actors of all-time, starring in a number of beloved action films. He is famous for his roles in films like Pulp Fiction, Snakes on Plane, and the prequel trilogy of Star Wars.
One of his most iconic roles is as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Mostly known as a movie star, Jackson has also expressed an interest in working more in the television field.
While he has not had as much time starring on the small screen, Jackson has said that he would have enjoyed making a cameo in one of the best television shows of all time: Breaking Bad.
What is ‘Breaking Bad’ about?
Breaking Bad follows the turn of mild-mannered science teach Walter White (Bryan Cranston) to meth-cooking crime lord Heisenberg. White is assisted by his former student and drug-dealer, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul).
Jesse and Walt are forced to deal with rival dealers, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and holding onto their sanity and morality as they fall deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole of crime. The show was created by Vince Gilligan, and ran on the AMC network for five seasons.
The show was spun off to the critically-acclaimed Better Call Saul, which focuses on Walt’s lawyer and confidant Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), and the Netflix original movie El Camino, which follows Jesse after his time cooking with Walt.
The show is considered one of the greatest shows of all-time and could have pulled off an amazing cameo by the one and only Nicky Fury.
Who is Nick Fury?
The director of S.H.I.E.L.D and organizer of The Avengers team, Fury is one of the most important characters in the MCU. His first appearance is in the very first MCU film, 2008’s Iron Man, in which he recruits Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) for his Avengers initiative.
Fury is also a major part of Captain Marvel, which stars Star Wars super-fan Brie Larson. The film shows Jackson’s pre-eyepatch glory days, as he and Marvel attempt to save the Earth. His interaction with the alien life forms in Captain Marvel leads him to begin development on the Avengers Initiative, which becomes the MCU’s collection of Earth’s mightiest heroes.
Fury directs the Avengers under the leadership of S.H.I.E.L.D, before it is revealed to be secretly under the control of the nefarious organization H.Y.D.R.A.
The possible MCU and ‘Breaking Bad’ crossover
While shooting on location in New Mexico for an Avengers film, Jackson had the dream of making a subtle cameo in a famous Breaking Bad restaurant. Much of Breaking Bad was shot in New Mexico, where the show is also set. One of the most iconic locations in the show is the Los Pollos Hermanos chicken eatery.
The front for Gus Fring’s (Giancarlo Esposito) criminal empire is a fan-favorite location of the series. Jackson pitched the idea that we would casually enter the restaurant and order food, all while in his full Fury costume.
In an interview with IndieWire, Jackson was quoted: “I just wanted to order a three-piece and really freak people out. Then people would be going, ‘Wow, was that him?“
Unfortunately for Breaking Bad and Marvel fans, the show’s producers declined Jackson’s request. This sight would have been a thrilling and somewhat confusing cameo for fans, and one that could ask interesting questions about possible multiverses.
Jackson has a history of making requests of his directors, as he famously asked George Lucas to allow him to have the first and only purple lightsaber in the galaxy when he starred as Jedi Master Mace Windu in the Star Wars franchise. Maybe in an upcoming MCU film, Fury could be transported in which the Avengers get fried chicken instead of shawarma.
