Poll: Can 'Iron Man' go on without Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury?

The answer to the above question is "yes," but it could be disappointing.

Geoff Boucher at Hero Complex has an exclusive chat with actor Samuel L. Jackson on the negotiations between himself and Marvel Studios. It appears, based on Jackson's account of his meetings with his representatives, that a deal that would secure him as Nick Fury for the Marvel Studios franchise films is in trouble.

Boucher also mentions Jackson's responses could be a negotiating move to put Jackson's "Nick Fury-ness" out there for the court of public opinion.

OK, let's do it.

Jackson's Nick Fury is a Marvel Comics creation physically based on the character from Mark Millar's "The Ultimates." Ultimate Fury is a cool customer and as hardcore as a Millar-written character can be. His look is even based on Jackson's (and certain bloggers who shall remain nameless, but he writes about comics -- hmmm, who could that be?).

We've also got the Nick Fury of the primary Marvel Comics universe. He's a favorite of mine and this Fury has kicked bad guy butt with the best of Marvel from Captain America to Wolverine.

I don't believe this is an issue of ethnicity, age of character or the number of comics appeared in. Both depictions are from the comics and both of these Furys are pretty cool. I believe this is a matter of which Nick Fury is the face of the character to a newer generation of reader and movie fan?

To readers of "The Ultimates" and the millions who watched "Iron Man" it could be Sam Jackson and to others it's the Fury that David Hasselhoff played in a TV movie that almost turned me off the character forever. (And yet I couldn't stop watching it -- I'm hopeless.)

So answer the bell folks... who's your Fury? You can answer the poll below and if you have an opinion on the next "Iron Man," please let me know if you think the show can go on without Jackson.