Breaking Bad Had Almost Had An MCU Cameo

Breaking Bad could have had an epic crossover with the Marvel Cinematic Universe if Samuel L. Jackson got what he wanted. The actor has portrayed Nick Fury since 2008’s Iron Man, including appearing in nine other movies; now there are rumblings of a spinoff show on Disney+ surrounding the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director. Breaking Bad, of course, was in no way connected to Marvel Comics, following an ordinary high school teacher, Walter White (Bryan Cranston), who turned into a drug kingpin after a grim health diagnosis. Despite the difference in genres and mediums, Jackson had plans for a mash-up.

Vince Gilligan’s neo-western crime drama debuted on AMC in January 2008 before later becoming a must-watch series. Four months later, Phase 1 of the MCU launched with the Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man film. By the time Breaking Bad came to an end after five, ground-breaking seasons in September 2013, the MCU was in the midst of Phase 2, having previously released seven titles. While Breaking Bad‘s prequel, Better Call Saul, is still going strong, the MCU is gearing up to begin Phase 4, which includes a mix of big-budget feature films and TV shows.

While Breaking Bad and the MCU don’t seem to have a lot in common, they did spend time filming in close proximity. The AMC series was memorably set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which was also where it was primarily filmed. Back in 2011, Marvel used Albuquerque Studios as one of the key locations when 2012’s The Avengers was in development. In fact, the location served as the interior sets for the movies S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier sequences. Since Jackson’s character was heavily featured in those scenes, he was working in the studio, which just happened to be next to Breaking Bad’s studio. This gave the actor an idea to cameo on the crime-drama in-costume as Nick Fury, eye-patch and all.

Why Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury Cameo Didn’t Happen In Breaking Bad

According to a past interview (via IndieWire), Jackson wanted to pop up in a Breaking Bad scene set in Los Pollos Hermanos, the fast-food chain owned by antagonist Gus Fring. He claimed that he “just wanted to order a three-piece and really freak people out,” indicating that he would have just briefly appeared in the background. Those familiar with the MCU would have instantly recognized the super spy, especially since he would have looked out of place in a New Mexico fried chicken restaurant. It certainly would have been a treat for fans of both Breaking Bad and the MCU, but unfortunately, it never came to be.

Jackson claimed that producers nixed the idea of a Nick Fury cameo, but it was unclear if he meant The Avengers producers or those working on Breaking Bad. It’s possible that Marvel Studios wouldn’t allow one of their characters in another title, especially in costume. On the other hand, an MCU cameo in Breaking Bad may have been too much of a distraction. That said, it still would have been thrilling for Jackson to briefly appear as himself.