Samuel Jackson declines any projects that ask to use his likeness “in perpetuity.”
Jackson has been on the road in promotion of the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, Secret Invasion. Reprising his role as Nick Fury, in the film his character learns of a secret invasion of Earth by villainous shapeshifters. The film debuted June 21 on Disney+.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, the Tony nominee discussed his new role as Nick Fury and opposing views on artificial intelligence. Jackson revealed that in all of his MCU roles, he has had to be scanned.
“Ever since I’ve been in the Marvel Universe, every time you change costumes in a Marvel movie, they scan you. Ever since I did Captain Marvel, and they did the Lola project where they de-aged me and everything else, it’s like, ‘Well, I guess they can do this anytime they want to do it if they really want to!’” the Secret Invasion star recalled.
With the frequent usage of this technology in films, Jackson encouraged new and rising actors to read their contracts thoroughly. “Future actors should do what I always do when I get a contract and it has the words ‘in perpetuity’ and ‘known and unknown’ on it: I cross that shit out.” He added, “It’s my way of saying, “No, I do not approve of this.”
Jackson is not the only actor to raise concerns over artificial intelligence and use of likeness. Veteran actor, Tom Hanks, believes that the careers of actors could seriously be in jeopardy. “I am very troubled by it. But it’s coming down, man,” he noted in a New York Times interview. He added, “It’s going to happen. And I’m not sure what actors can do about it.”