Samuel L. Jackson Dismisses Quentin Tarantino's Criticism That Marvel Has No "Movie Stars"

After Quentin Tarantino's recent comments on Marvel films, Samuel L. Jackson challenged the director on talk show The View.

Samuel L. Jackson is pushing back on Quentin Tarantino's rejection of the “Marvel-ization of Hollywood." On daytime talk show The View, Jackson challenged Tarantino, who he's collaborated with since 1994 flick Pulp Fiction, after the director claimed that Marvel actors are "not movie stars."

“It takes an actor to be those particular characters, and the sign of movie stardom has always been, what, asses in seats? What are we talking about?” said Jackson, who's played Marvel Cinematic Universe character Nick Fury since 2008. “That’s not a big controversy for me to know that apparently these actors are movie stars. Chadwick Boseman is Black Panther. You can’t refute that, and he’s a movie star.”

While appearing on podcast 2 Bears, 1 Cave earlier this month, Tarantino called out Marvel Studios for leading a decline of notable film stars.

“Part of the Marvel-ization of Hollywood is… you have all these actors who have become famous playing these characters,” he said. “But they’re not movie stars. Right? Captain America is the star. Or Thor is the star. I mean, I’m not the first person to say that. I think that’s been said a zillion times… but it’s like, you know, it’s these franchise characters that become a star.”

During a book event also held in November, Tarantino was questioned about what comic book he would adapt if given the opportunity. He responded by mentioning Marvel’s “Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos," helmed by character Nick Fury.