Last October, Terrence Howard refused an opportunity to reprise his role as Tony Stark's friend James Rhodes in the sequel to the blockbuster movie 'Iron Man.' Now thatSamuel Jackson has signed with Marvel Entertainment to do a multi-film deal as Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D., there is more reason to believe that Howard's decision may have been penny wise and pound foolish.
When Howard rejected what he considered a low-ball offer from Marvel, it wasn't clear what the company was going to do with the Iron Man franchise. After the movie made $600 million last summer, a sequel was a no-brainer. But the deal with Samuel Jackson highlights a strategy of making long-term commitments to characters that may make actors more eager to sign with Marvel in the future. Jackson signed a nine-film deal where he will play the Nick Fury character across several Marvel franchises including 'Thor,' 'Captain America' and 'The Avengers,' with a movie about S.H.I.E.L.D. also a possibility. Although he too felt Marvel low-balled their initial offer to him, over several months of back-and-forth Jackson was able to negotiate a landmark deal that will guarantee him paychecks for several years to come.
