“Nick is retreating back to the shadow world,” said Samuel L. Jackson to Buzz Feed of his former S.H.I.E.L.D. director at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. “It’s this place that he and Natasha [Romanoff, aka Black Widow] refer to a lot, and it makes him a much more interesting character who won’t be instantly recognizable because of that.” About Nick Fury's iconic eyepatch, which he burns to a crisp also at the end of the Marvel sequel, Jackson says he personally picked out its replacement: a pair shades. “We looked at a lot of glasses, and went with those because they were a specific color that blended into my skin tone,” he said. “It was most important they not be immediately recognizable as sunglasses because we didn’t want it to look like he was trying to hide. We wanted it to look like this was simply a style choice to the outside world.”
Of course, Captain America: The Winter Soldier leaves Nick Fury presumed dead to the world, but really on a mission to Europe, where the film's mid-credits scene introduces HYDRA’s Baron von Strucker, and his “volunteers” Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver who feature in next summer's Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, Jackson reiterates that Fury won't play a major part in the 2015 sequel. “Avengers 2 is so huge, and having seen the [mid-credits scene], I don’t know there’s a real space for Nick in that scenario because everything is so extraordinary,” he said. “When you come down to it, Nick’s an ordinary guy who knows how to bend extraordinary people to his will. The [Avengers sequel] is not about Nick and what S.H.I.E.L.D. is going through. We’re going to skip over him in an interesting sort of way. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll show up, but it’s not to be an effective part of the plot or the resolution of the plot from [The Winter Soldier].”
Chris Evans also talked to Buzz Feed, but he kept mum on Avengers: Age of Ultron. He did, however, reassure that that Joss Whedon’s script far exceeds his expectations. “It’s a tough balance for Marvel to orchestrate these independent franchises while still dipping into the Avengers pool,” said the actor. “But the script is so good.” However, it seems Chris Evans is really looking forward to Captain America 3, which (as of right now) is reportedly scheduled for release May 2016. “I just love the relationship with Bucky, the Winter Soldier [Sebastian Stan],” he said. “Cap’s this wildly selfless man who is going through a very traumatic experience and determined not to bleed on anybody but challenged with such a conflicting hurdle. It’s this really beautiful dichotomy of trying to be strong and selfless, but at the same time, facing this real personal challenge.” He continued, “This is so personal for Cap, who has had to adjust to modern times; not just with tech shock and how society operates, but with the fact he’s been alone. He had no connection to anyone from his life when he was suddenly slammed with this relationship from his past, and seeing that evolve and come to fruition will be very exciting.” Samuel L. Jackson, on the other hand, is hoping future installments to Captain America/Avengers franchises will explore another dynamic: “I don’t think a lot of kids who watch these films realize that Nick was around when Captain America was around in World War II,” he said. “I want to know how he got from where he was then to where he is now, and what it is that allows him to still be so vital.” Read Buzz Feed's full Q&A. What do you think?