Samuel L. Jackson to Play Nick Fury for Rest of Life

So would Nick Fury age over nine films?

Variety reports that Samuel L. Jackson has signed a deal to play Nick Fury not just in “Iron Man 2,” but potentially nine other Marvel films. Considering how often Jackson likes to work, this means that he’ll only be able to pick from 72 other projects over the next few years, as opposed to his usual 81.

Jackson introduced his character in a little epilogue to “Iron Man.” Obviously, this was a set up to play the Fury in future films, but apparently Marvel has been taking a tough negotiating stance with actors for the sequel, so it wasn’t a given that he’d make the deal; witness how quickly they replaced Terrence Howard with Don Cheadle in the role of Col. “Rhodey” Rhodes, and how fast negotiations with Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke to play villains in “Iron Man 2″ have collapsed. Marvel seems to be saying “this is what we’re paying, if you don’t like it, there are plenty of other actors out there.” And to be honest, they’re right. No one is irreplaceable. But if you can get a better paycheck somewhere else and that’s your priority, then it’s your right to tell Marvel to forget it.

So…nine movies, that’s a lot of Nick Fury. How will they fill in all those slots? Can he drop into “Spider-Man 4?”