Although it’s been 19 years since the last movie calledShaft,the newest incarnation is a very different beast. First, there’sSamuel L. Jackson, reprising his role from the 2000 John Singleton movie, as well as the original ShaftRichard Roundtree, his role changed a little since last time. They’re joined by John Shaft Jr. aka “J.J.,” as played byJessie T. Usher(Independence Day: Resurgence), who brings a very different dynamic to the new movie.
This time around, the Tim Story-directedShaftis more of an action-comedy that plays on the awkward relationship between father and son Shafts as they try to work together to solve a case and stop a Harlem-based drug ring. J.J. is far more “woke” than his foul-mouthed father, who often feels the need to resort to violence to get the answers they need. While Jackson’s previous foray as John Shaft was R-rated, this one takes that R-rating to a new level.
I spoke with all three actors at theRed Roosterrestaurant in Harlem – probably some of the best junket food I’ve ever eaten, mind you!
Topics discussed in the video interview below include:
Incidentally, after the video stopped rolling, I did ask Jackson about him returning to play Nick Fury in the MCU, and he was fairly non-committal:
“I don’t ask questions,” he told me. “I just kind of show up and do what they ask me to do. I’ve learned a long time ago that I’m not gonna ask, ‘I need a Nick Fury movie!’ I don’t know if I do or don’t. People would like to see it, and if you do it, fine, do it. If you don’t, I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. I go to work.”
