Samuel L. Jackson Had To Go Through A Nightmare To Get A Role In Tarantino's Pulp Fiction
He literally ate his way out.
Pulp Fiction is Quentin Tarantino 's second film, released in 1994, which intertwines several interconnected stories set in the criminal underworld of Los Angeles.
The movie has a prominent cast, including Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, but not everyone knows that getting a role in such massive projects turned out to be a hell of a ride for one of the actors.
Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most iconic actors in the history of cinema, and his portrayal of Jules Winnfield, part-time hitman and part-time man of God in Pulp Fiction, remains incredibly memorable to this day.
Though the role was originally written for Laurence Fishburne, the Matrix star had to turn it down because he felt the film's drug theme was too loose.
This immediately opened the door for Samuel L. Jackson, but he was apparently not the only one on the top list of candidates.
Few people know, but Quentin Tarantino had originally asked Jackson to read for the role of Jules, but after another actor, Paul Calderón, impressed him, Jackson had to go into full competition mode.
Faced with sudden obstacles, the need to audition in Los Angeles, and even being mistaken for Laurence Fishburne by producers, Jackson channeled his anger into a powerful audition.
In an interview with Far Out Magazine, one of the film's producers, Richard N. Gladstein, recalled Jackson's audition, which took place in a tense atmosphere due to Tarantino's tardiness.
Jackson had the unusual scene of entering the room with a burger and a drink.
As he sipped his shake and bit into his burger, his intense gaze made Gladstein fear for his life, thinking Jackson might kill him.
This intense, silent interaction between the director, producer, and actor immediately earned the letter a role in the film.
Although the actor had to go through a nightmare and probably had a nervous breakdown, this situation served him as a great advantage, as he was able to switch to his villainous mode and perfectly embody the fiery personality of Jules.
Source: Far Out Magazine