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Samuel L. Jackson boasts more than 180 acting credits in his decades-long career. Fans adore the actor for many of his roles, including Marvel’s Nick Fury, the voice of Frozone in Pixar’s The Incredibles, and various cool characters in Quentin Tarantino films. In fact, his character in a Tarantino film has an interesting connection to Jackson’s Mace Windu from the Star Wars prequels. It involves the Jedi Master’s unique lightsaber.

Samuel L. Jackson’s special purple lightsaber

Samuel L. Jackson purple lightsaber Star Wars
Samuel L. Jackson | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Different lightsaber colors have different meanings in the Star Wars universe: 

  • Red lightsabers are used by dark Jedi and the Sith who desire power.
  • Green lightsabers are favored by Jedi Consulars, who prefer to negotiate before engaging in battles, such as Qui-Gon Jinn, Luke Skywalker, and Yoda.
  • Blue lightsabers are preferred by Jedi Guardians, who fight for peace and have some serious saber skills. They include Anakin Skywalker, Vox explains.

When Samuel L. Jackson took the role of Jedi Master Mace Windu, he wanted a lightsaber color that stood out. The actor explained that there was a big battle scene in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones with many Jedi involved. Jackson immediately wondered how he would spot himself in the scene with so many other lightsaber-wielding Jedi.

He decided that a lightsaber of a different color was the answer and asked Star Wars creator George Lucas if he could have that. Lucas explained that for the Jedi on the good side of the Force, blue and green were the only options. That was the end of that conversation because Lucas anticipated a backlash from fans.

When they finished reshoots for the film, Jackson explained that he had to return to London. There, Lucas showed the actor a purple lightsaber, but the director warned Jackson that fans were already discussing it online and that he wasn’t sure he would keep it in the film. However, the purple lightsaber ended up staying in the. Attack of the Clones marked the first time audiences saw his character wielding the Jedi weapon in the prequel trilogy.

What message is engraved on Samuel L. Jackson’s purple lightsaber from the Star Wars prequels?

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Samuel L. Jackson explained there was a connection between the purple lightsaber he received as a gift from George Lucas and his most famous Tarantino character. 

Most fans remember Jackson played hitman Jules Winnfield in 1994’s Pulp Fiction. In the film, he’s at a diner with another hitman (played by John Travolta). While the diner and its patrons are robbed, Winnfield negotiates with the couple holding the place up.

When Jackson’s character asks for his wallet, one of the robbers asks which one is his. The character explains it’s the one with “Bad Mother F***er” on it. Jackson explained on The Graham Norton Show in 2013 that one of the prop lightsabers he used while filming Episode II has “BMF” on the handle, a nod to the inscription on Winnfield’s wallet.

Jackson still has that lightsaber at home. Jackson explained that he didn’t ask for the engraving, but “they did that because they loved me.” At the end of the shoot, he said, they presented it to him with “BMF” on the on/off button.

Interestingly, Mace Windu wasn’t the only Jedi to wield a purple lightsaber. Also depicted in the Star Wars universe was Mara Jade Skywalker, who wielded a purple lightsaber in the video game Masters of Teräs Käsi as far back as 1997. Who did it first is a topic of contention among Star Wars fans.

The acting legend has several projects in the pipeline

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Even with all of his movie credits, Samuel L. Jackson shows no signs of slowing down. Fans will see Nick Fury again soon in Secret Invasion, a mini-series on Disney+, that will see the character team up with Talos to stop the Skrulls, who placed agents in the highest ranks of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fury will also appear in the upcoming MCU film The Marvels in 2023.

In addition, Jackson will appear in the upcoming spy adventure film Argylle as part of a talented cast. He’s currently filming The Kill Room, a comedy thriller, with fellow Pulp Fiction alum Uma Thurman.

Next, he’ll move on to The Piano Lesson, co-starring Ray Fisher and John David Washington, and provide a voice in the short animation series Futha Mucka with Ryan Reynolds.

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