According to an interview with the LA Times, Samuel L. Jackson aka Nick Fury stated that negotiations with Marvel to reprise his role as Nick Fury in 'Iron Man 2' and 2012's highly-anticpated 'Avengers' have not been going well.

From the LA Times: 

"There was a huge kind of negotiation that broke down. I don't know. Maybe I won't be Nick Fury. Maybe somebody else will be Nick Fury or maybe Nick Fury won't be in it. There seems to be an economic crisis in the Marvel Comics world so [they're saying to me], 'We're not making that deal.'"

Who the hell else are they going to get to play Nick Fury? (David Hasselhoff, sit the hell down. No, seriously...just leave). 

Samuel L. Jackson (at least in the Ultimate U) IS Nick Fury.

I'm optimistic. Marvel has already responded to press inquiries into the dispute, stating that "active negotiations" are still being held with Jackson. On the other hand, it took them five seconds to replace Terence Howard with Don Cheadle as War Machine in 'Iron Man 2' when Howard started asking for more money to reprise the role. 

For the sake of the franchise, I hope that Marvel can come to their senses and that, come 2012, Sam Jackson will be screaming out (at least in my fantasy-riddled, fucked-up head): AVENGERS ASSEMBLE, MOTHERFUCKER!!!

But that's just me...

You can read the full LA Times article HERE.