Samuel L Jackson Rallies in Support of Brie Larson Against Online Bullies, Unveiling the True Strength of 'Captain Marvel'

Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson Photo by Brian J Ritchie/Hotsauce/Shutterstock

Samuel L. Jackson fiercely defends his Marvel co-star and close friend, Brie Larson, against online trolls who targeted her with hate. The 74-year-old Secret Invasion star expressed admiration for Larson's resilience, stating that she refuses to let the negativity affect her. In an interview with Rolling Stone on June 20th, Jackson addressed the criticism Larson faced following the release of their 2019 film Captain Marvel, particularly from incel individuals who harbor animosity towards powerful women. He commended Larson for fearlessly expressing her feminist views and emphasized that she remains true to herself despite others' expectations.

Larson portrayed Captain Marvel in the studio's groundbreaking solo female-led film. Alongside facing criticism for her performance in the action-packed movie, she also received backlash for using the film's press tour as a platform to advocate for diversity in Hollywood. Moreover, prior to its release in March 2019, the film's Rotten Tomatoes page was inundated with negative reviews from trolls. Despite the negativity, the movie surpassed expectations and earned over $1 billion at the global box office.

In an interview with Variety and iHeartMedia's "The Big Ticket" podcast in April 2019, the Oscar winner expressed her joy in being at the forefront of normalizing this type of content and reaffirming the importance of representation. She emphasized that diverse storytelling and the female experience are significant aspects that deserve recognition and appreciation.

In September 2022, Larson, who had recently announced her break-up with Elijah Allan-Blitz, spoke about the criticism she faced regarding her role as Captain Marvel at the D23 Expo. When questioned by Variety about her future as the character, she pondered, "I'm not sure. Is there a desire for me to reprise the role?"

In the Rolling Stone feature, Jackson, who will be reuniting with Larson in the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels, shared insights into the early stages of their enduring friendship.

"We had a challenging time working on Kong [Skull Island] together," Jackson revealed. "Despite the difficulties, we developed a strong friendship during that project."

Later on, the Pulp Fiction star was cast in Larson's directorial debut, Unicorn Store, even though Larson initially considered another actor for the role. "I was in the makeup trailer with her and questioned why she was considering someone else for the part instead of me," Jackson recounted. "She admitted that she didn't think I would be interested... but then she asked if I would do it, and I immediately agreed."

Their bond became even stronger after the 2016 presidential election, when Donald Trump emerged victorious over Hillary Clinton. Jackson reminisced about that time, saying, "She was shattered, and I told her, 'Don't let them shatter you. You need to stay strong.'"

Recently, Larson found herself taken aback when questioned about Johnny Depp's movie Jeanne Du Barry, which was chosen to open the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. "Are you asking me about that?" she responded during a press conference on May 16. "I apologize, but I fail to see the connection or why my opinion matters in this particular situation."

Larson was asked about her thoughts on the case, considering her role on the Time's Up advisory council. She responded by saying that she would have to wait and see if she watches the movie, and she is unsure of how she would feel if she does. It is worth noting that Depp, aged 60, sued Heard, aged 37, for defamation in 2019 after she claimed to be a victim of domestic violence in an op-ed for The Washington Post. The jury ultimately ruled in Depp's favor in June 2022.