Samuel L. Jackson‘s one-eyed spymaster Nick Fury has been pivotal in countless MCU plotlines, from the inception of the Avengers through the resolution of major crises and threats to the survival of humanity. And on Disney Plus this Wednesday, he’ll have his very own show: the paranoid thriller Secret Invasion. In anticipation of the first episode, Jackson opened up to Entertainment Weekly about the show, revealing that Fury has shortcomings despite being a strong hand-to-hand combatant and is beginning to show his age.
“He’s flawed. He’s got some psychological issues. He’s got some physical issues. And the only person that doesn’t know that he has these issues is Fury. Everybody else knows, like, ‘Dude, you’re not the same dude.'”
Nick Fury, who Jackson called “the show’s connective tissue,” is at the center of the action as he works to expose an alien conspiracy that takes many forms. As the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., a worldwide agency dedicated to maintaining world peace, Fury’s debut appearance was a cameo at the end of Iron Man (2008), laying the groundwork for the shared cinematic world. The spymaster is well-known for his no-nonsense approach, dedication to safeguarding Earth from numerous threats, and successful organization of the Avengers.
However, The Hateful Eight actor also told Entertainment Weekly that he can’t wait for Marvel fans to know more about the show’s other main characters.
“I’m the guy that everybody knows. So when [viewers] come to it, they’re coming to it like: ‘Oh, we’re finally getting the Nick Fury series.’ But they’re going to be surprised because they’re going to find out so much about these other people who they’re going to want to know more about.”
On June 21, 2023, fans can watch the first of six episodes of Secret Invasion. It kicks off Phase Five of the MCU. This Disney Plus original series by Kyle Bradstreet features a stellar ensemble cast that includes both new and seasoned characters. Besides Jackson, the stars include Ben Mendelsohn (in the role of Talos), Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Charlayne Woodard, Killian Scott, Samuel Adewunmi, Dermot Mulroney, Christopher McDonald, Katie Finneran, Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, and Don Cheadle.