Samuel L. Jackson Recalls His Fight to Stop Snakes on a Plane Being Given a More Mundane Title

If there was ever a movie that does exactly what it says on the tin, then Snakes on a Plane is pretty much top of the pile. The Samuel L. Jackson action movie was ridiculed at the time of the release, but in all its hokey goodness has become a must-watch movie for anyone just looking for a good way to kill a couple of hours. However, whether it would have been quite as successful if it had been called Pacific Flight 121 is something that we will never know thanks to Jackson’s insistence in keeping the title. Speaking to Vulture, Jackson recalled his battle to keep the title. He said:

“When I heard about Snakes on a Plane, I had just done Formula 51 with the director. So I called him, was like, ‘Are you going to do a movie called Snakes on a Plane? Is it what I think it is?’ He’s like, ‘Yes, it’s a plane full of poisonous snakes turned loose.’ I’m like, ‘Oh sh*t, can I be in that?’ So he called New Line, New Line was excited.”

However, a change in director further down the line almost prevented that iconic title being used, but Jackson was on hand to ensure that the title remained intact. While the studio wanted to make the movie title less obvious, the actor was adamant that it shouldn’t be changed at all. He continued:

“I was like, ‘Oh, well I’m still going to do it. F*** that. When I got there, they were trying to change the name of it to something like Pacific Flight 121, ‘Cause we don’t want to give it away.’ I was like, ‘That’s exactly what you want to do! Hell is wrong with you? I signed up for Snakes on a Plane and I guarantee you that audiences will be way more excited about Snakes on a Plane than Pacific Flight 121.’”

Related: Samuel L. Jackson Shares the Story Behind His Star Wars Casting

Samuel L. Jackson is Back as Nick Fury in The Marvels This November

While Samuel L. Jackson may not be battling snakes in the sky anymore, he has his hands full with things even higher – out in space to be exact. Playing Nick Fury in the MCU has given Jackson a continuing role that he has fully embodied over the last 15 years, and as Secret Invasion brings his solo story on Disney+ to a close, he will be back this November alongside Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel in The Marvels.

The new trailer suggests that Fury will once again have a lynchpin role to play, as Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan find themselves thrown together as their powers become intertwined and they must work together to bring down the latest threat to the MCU world.

You can prepare for the final MCU movie of the year with the Secret Invasion finale on Wednesday July 26 on Disney+.