Samuel L. Jackson has confirmed that his iconic Marvel character Nick Fury will not appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday but is set to return in its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars. The actor shared the news in an interview with The Direct on the red carpet for his film The Beast earlier this week.
Asked when audiences would see the eyepatched former S.H.I.E.L.D. director again, Jackson pointed to "the movie after this one," explaining that Marvel Studios had told him he would not be in the December release but would be part of the next film. Pressed for details about his role, Jackson said the studio had shared almost nothing with him beyond that instruction, and he has no idea what Secret Wars involves.
End of months of speculation
The confirmation settles a question that has followed Marvel fans since the studio unveiled its Doomsday cast in March 2025 without Jackson's name on the list. A later report had suggested Fury might appear in the film anyway, contradicting the official lineup — a claim Jackson's comments now put to rest. The studio's co-directors have said the Doomsday cast was never fully announced, which had kept hopes alive for a surprise appearance.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to open on December 18, 2026, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom. Avengers: Secret Wars follows on December 17, 2027. Both films are directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.
A long-awaited return
Jackson has played Nick Fury since his post-credits debut in 2008's Iron Man, appearing across the Infinity Saga and headlining the Disney+ series Secret Invasion in 2023. His last big-screen outing was in The Marvels, also released in 2023, meaning roughly four years will have passed by the time Fury resurfaces. Marvel Studios has not yet formally announced his casting for Secret Wars.
Sources: Samuel L. Jackson Reveals Where Nick Fury Is After 18 Years — Parade · Samuel L. Jackson Confirms Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars Status — CBR
Asked when audiences would see the eyepatched former S.H.I.E.L.D. director again, Jackson pointed to "the movie after this one," explaining that Marvel Studios had told him he would not be in the December release but would be part of the next film. Pressed for details about his role, Jackson said the studio had shared almost nothing with him beyond that instruction, and he has no idea what Secret Wars involves.
End of months of speculation
The confirmation settles a question that has followed Marvel fans since the studio unveiled its Doomsday cast in March 2025 without Jackson's name on the list. A later report had suggested Fury might appear in the film anyway, contradicting the official lineup — a claim Jackson's comments now put to rest. The studio's co-directors have said the Doomsday cast was never fully announced, which had kept hopes alive for a surprise appearance.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to open on December 18, 2026, with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom. Avengers: Secret Wars follows on December 17, 2027. Both films are directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.
A long-awaited return
Jackson has played Nick Fury since his post-credits debut in 2008's Iron Man, appearing across the Infinity Saga and headlining the Disney+ series Secret Invasion in 2023. His last big-screen outing was in The Marvels, also released in 2023, meaning roughly four years will have passed by the time Fury resurfaces. Marvel Studios has not yet formally announced his casting for Secret Wars.
Sources: Samuel L. Jackson Reveals Where Nick Fury Is After 18 Years — Parade · Samuel L. Jackson Confirms Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars Status — CBR