Acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson has a busy schedule of film releases in the near future. From comedies to period pieces and action films, Jackson’s upcoming lineup continues to illustrate his versatility as an actor. Jackson began his career in the 1970s, achieving his big breakthrough in the 1990s with roles in the Martin Scorsese film. Good companions and Spike Lee Jungle Fever. The actor became a household name for his roles in pulp Fiction, Jurassic Parkand much more.
Jackson’s film The piano lesson will be released in theaters on November 8. The period drama is set during the Great Depression and stars Erykah Badu, John David Washington and others. Jackson was also recently cast in The honest liar, alongside Grammy winner Andra Day (of United States x Billie Holiday). Jackson is also will soon reprise his beloved role as Nick Fury in Avengers Doomsdaywhich is currently scheduled for release in 2026. Their lineup will end 2024 strong, with an even more exciting 2025 just around the corner.
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The piano lesson
Release date: November 8, 2024
The well rated The piano lesson is set in 1936, during the Great Depression, and follows the resilience and lineage of a black family. The title comes from the Charles family piano, adorned with intricate carvings Document your family history, including that of your enslaved ancestors. The Southern Gothic film is based on August Wilson’s 1987 play of the same name and was directed by newcomer Malcolm Washington. The screenplay was co-written by Virgil Williams, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2017 for Stuck in the mud. Denzel Washington produced the film, in which his son, John David Washington, also stars.
Jackson stars as patriarch Doaker Charles, reprising the role from her appearance in the 2022 Broadway play. The film premiered to great acclaim at the Telluride Film Festival in August 2024. Early reviews currently show the film has a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is being widely praised for its rich representation of black American history. Rather than focusing solely on the trauma of the country’s history of racism, the film offers a detailed portrait of Black culture and joy in one of the darkest eras in American history. The piano lesson will be released in theaters on November 8th and will be on Netflix on November 22nd.
Wilson The piano lesson is part of his ten-piece series, often referred to as The Pittsburgh Cycle. The plays chronicle the life and heritage of the black community in 20th century America. These include segregation struggles and the Civil Rights Movement, but also important cultural contributions and moments of jubilation. This is especially poignant in Jackson’s life, as the actor was educated at the historically black Morehouse College, where he graduated in 1972. Jackson was also involved in the Civil Rights Movement (via The Hollywood Reporter).
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The honest liar
For launch in 2026
Jackson was also recently cast in The honest liar opposite Edgar Ramirez and Andra Day. The film will follow Jackson as a seasoned actor teaching a group of young undercover police officers how to act like criminals in order to solve cases and save their own lives in the process. The film was written and directed by Wayne Kramer, known for his acclaimed 2003 crime drama film. The refrigerator, which starred Alec Baldwin and earned him an Oscar nomination.
Jackson’s future co-star Edgar Ramirez recently starred in the musical crime comedy film Emilia Pérez alongside Selena Gomez. That film, which revolves around a drug cartel boss who seeks to transition to living as a woman, will soon stream on Netflix on November 13 (via City and countryside). Meanwhile, Day won a Grammy in 2022 for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for his work on The United States x Billie Holiday. Each of the three co-stars will bring unique elements to the film, and Jackson’s own history of acclaim will make his character The honest liar a potentially humorous self-insert. The film will likely begin production in 2025 and its release schedule is yet to be determined.
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Post-burn
To be released in 2025
Post-burn, scheduled to be released in 2025and is based on Red 5 comics of the same name by Scott Chitwood and Paul Ens. The film stars Jackson as a freedom fighter named Valentine in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world, accompanied by a cast that includes Dave Bautista, Kristofer Hivju from Game of Thronesand Olga Kurylenko. The story unfolds a decade after Earth’s technology was destroyed by a solar flare, which is entirely plausible: Solar flares occur when a massive burst of radiation is emitted from points on the Sun and are considered the most explosive occurrences in the Milky Way.
The film began development in 2018, but was only adapted in 2024, when it was directed by JJ Perry. The film focuses on the power struggles of a post-apocalyptic society, with Bautista as Jake, a smuggler who hunts for pre-explosion treasures for the rich and powerful. Specifically, Post-burn will feature Jake’s hunt for Da Vinci The Mona Lisa. Jackson has long starred in several sci-fi and superhero filmsand Post-burn will benefit greatly from its performance.
Post-burn will come at a pivotal moment in culture – in an era where modern technology continues to increasingly become the backbone of the world. Without modern technology, the film’s characters will have to navigate contemporary issues without corresponding contemporary features. The rise of AI technologies has been a hot-button issue in recent years, and the film could appropriately navigate a world that was once too reliant on these innovations.
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The Unholy Trinity
Premiered in October 2024, release date pending
The Unholy Trinity is an upcoming Western written by Lee Zachariah and directed by Richard Gray. The film was shot in 2023, before the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, delaying its release at the 2024 Zurich Film Festival. Jackson stars as the mysterious Saint Christopher set against the backdrop of 1870s Montana. The film revolves around a man who fulfills his father’s dying wish – to kill the man who once framed him for murder. Jackson co-stars alongside Pierce Brosnan as Gabriel Dove, the town sheriff, Tim Daly as Isaac Broadway, the accused, Brandon Lessard as Henry Broadway, his son, and more.
Director Richard Gray sought to tell the story of the Irish immigrants who colonized the American West. Gray stated: “Many Irish men and women built the West on their shoulders. They wanted to create lives for themselves and there is romance in that. When Sam came on board, it gave more strength. He is magnificent” (through Variety). The film has not yet been released in theaters or on streaming, and Negotiations are still ongoing with distributors. Based on early critical reviews, The Unholy Trinity currently has 6.9/10 stars in IMDB.
The film arrives at a unique time for the western genre, with a new cultural consciousness coming into play since the release of Scorsese’s 2023 Flower Moon Assassins. Previously, several classic Western films relied heavily on stereotypes of indigenous and black characters, leading to new criticism by current industry standards. Until now, The Unholy Trinity was praised for its distinctive storytelling and star-studded cast.
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Avengers: Judgment Day
Release date: May 1, 2026
Avengers: Judgment Day will mark the fifth iteration of the current Avengers film cycle, and will focus on Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). Jackson will reprise his role as Nick Fury, a retired super spy who founded SHIELD and the Avengers themselves. Jackson first appeared as Fury in Iron Man in 2008, and continued to reprise the role in various Marvel films for several decades. Avengers: Judgment Day is scheduled to be filmed in 2025 and released in 2026. Jackson’s role as Nick Fury in the MCU remains his longest-running role to date.
The MCU, which is based on the original Marvel Comics, officially began in 2008 with Iron Manwith Robert Downey Jr. playing the titular character. Since its inception, the MCU has launched careers for industry newcomers and boasted the inclusion of familiar names including Jackson, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, and more. The franchise has worked with several directors, but Avengers: Judgment Day will be directed by directors Joe and Anthony Russo.
With upcoming films The Piano Lesson, The Honest Liar, Afterburn, The Unholy Trinity and Avengers: Judgment Day, Samuel L. Jackson continues to look toward an even broader career with intriguing roles. At age 75, the actor’s dynamic performances only continue to grow, and his 2025 projects will only pave the way for more narrative-rich roles with important cultural messages.
Sources: Rotten tomatoes, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, IMDB