Samuel L. Jackson Clarified Those Nick Fury ‘Breaking Bad’ Cameo Rumors — ‘Not True’
Marvel star Samuel L. Jackson has held a number of iconic roles throughout his decades-long acting career. But Nick Fury is one of his most instantly recognizable characters. Since he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., most fans associate Jackson with Fury’s black trenchcoat and eye patch.
For years, fans believed Jackson tried to work a cameo of his infamous character in Breaking Bad. However, the actor later cleared up these rumors. Discover what he originally said and what he actually meant.
Samuel L. Jackson plays Nick Fury in the Marvel movies
The MCU is currently comprised of 26 movies and multiple TV shows, and Jackson’s Nick Fury has appeared in nine of Marvel’s feature films. Although the S.H.I.E.L.D. director has yet to headline a project of his own, he’s played an important role in other characters’ storylines.
Whether he’s keeping tabs on Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in the early Iron Man movies or working with Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) in Captain Marvel, Fury shapes many of Marvel’s heroes’ trajectories. In Avengers, he even provides the incentive for the team to finally come together and stop Loki (Tom Hiddleston).
Needless to say, Fury is an integral part of the MCU — and most fans know it. He’s an iconic character, and that’s why fans would have loved to see him in Breaking Bad.
Outlets reported Jackson tried to get Nick Fury in ‘Breaking Bad’
After playing such a prominent part in the MCU, it’s safe to say most people would recognize Nick Fury if they ran into him on the street. They’d also probably spot him if he made a cameo in another franchise — something Jackson reportedly tried to make happen with AMC’s Breaking Bad.
According to a 2012 interview from IndieWire, Jackson came up with the idea when Breaking Bad and Avengers were both shooting in the same area. “They shot in the studio right across from us in Albuquerque,” the actor explained.
Reportedly, Jackson wanted to walk into Los Pollos Hermanos dressed as Nick Fury. His idea was to casually order some food from Gustavo Fring’s (Giancarlo Esposito) restaurant, Hermanos, and see if anyone spotted him:
“I just wanted to order a three-piece and really freak people out. Then people would be going, ‘Wow, was that him?“
In February 2022, Jackson responded to an Instagram account purporting the attempted cameo. “Not true,” the actor wrote. “I just wanted to go into Hermanos & buy some chicken in the background of a scene as myself.” So the cameo wouldn’t have been Nick Fury — it would have been Jackson.
Why a ‘Breaking Bad’ cameo didn’t pan out for Samuel L. Jackson
Jackson further clarified the misunderstanding. He never tried to sneak onto the set at all. The actor said he “never got the time” to make his Breaking Bad cameo before the series ended.
But there’s no shortage of Jackson movie and TV appearances. He’ll return as Nick Fury in Marvel’s Secret Invasion series, giving viewers something to look forward to in the semi-near future.
[Correction: An earlier version interpreted Jackson’s comments about appearing as Nick Fury, referencing the IndieWire interview. This article has been updated to reflect his clarification.]
