Exclusive: Samuel L. Jackson Talks “Fight Night” and Portraying the Black Godfather in Real-Life Heist Series

Samuel L. Jackson spoke with Baller Alert at the Fight Night red carpet premiere to discuss his latest project, Fight Night, a gripping series based on the real-life heist that shook Atlanta. Jackson, who was actually in Atlanta during the infamous event, opened up about what it was like to witness the chaos firsthand and now bring that story to life on screen as the Black Godfather.

Nya kicked off the interview by pointing out the unique connection between Jackson’s experience and his role. She asked, “So within this show, it’s actually based on a true story, and I read that you were actually in Atlanta when the heist happened. What does it feel like to now be the Black Godfather in this story when you were, you know, living kind of through this history?”

Jackson responded by highlighting how real events often become larger than life in the community, evolving into something far bigger than what actually happened. “You know, we have a great thing happening in our culture in that the reality is the reality. Yes, there was a fight. Yes, there was a robbery. People got stripped naked and stuck in the street and taken and all this stuff, and then a lot of people started dying.”

He described how, as the story spread, it turned into a myth within the culture, creating its own lore. “So us being us, you know, the mythology of the robbery got way bigger than the robbery was. So, you know, we started talking about baby got a Colt J gun, and you know, Nene, they stole her diamond necklace, and so-and-so got shot because he was part of it, and so-and-so had nothing to do with it.”

For Jackson, adding a layer of myth to reality was part of the thrill of working on Fight Night. “So to be able to take that reality and add a little mythology and meat to that mythological bone was a great time for me, you know, so it was cool. That’s awesome.”

Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of the Black Godfather in Fight Night is bound to be another standout performance in his legendary career. By weaving together history and myth, he brings depth and authenticity to a story that is as captivating as it is intense.