Confirmed: Nick Fury Appearing In Both 'Thor' And 'Captain America: The First Avenger'; Will Have A Female Sidekick In 'The Avengers'

Since Nick Fury's surprise cameo at the end of Iron Man, Marvel has been actively trying to figure out how best to tie together each of the stand-alone superhero outings leading up to The Avengers. Between Tony Stark's mention of the "Avengers Initiative" in The Incredible Hulk and the locating of Thor's hammer in Iron Man 2 — along with Fury's more prominent presence during that film's latter half — it's debatable to what extent these inclusions actually contribute to the overall narrative. Are they purely fan service, or are they helping drive forward the story?

Come this summer, we may finally find out the answer. Or will we even have to wait that long?

After confirmation by Samuel L. Jackson that he would not be making an appearance in Thor, it now seems that isn't the case. Nick Fury will in fact be featured in both of this year's Marvel blockbusters, showing up in Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger in equal measure. Learn more about his roles in those films, as well his role in The Avengers, after the break.

Samuel L. Jackson revealed news of the appearances while on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the video for which you can check out below.

In the next month or so, I have to do one day on Thor, and I gotta do another day on Captain America, and in April we start The Avengers — the big deal with everybody. Thor and Captain America are pretty much done, but I haven't done my part in them yet. I'm just connective tissue for them to join The Avengers.

With only one day on each film so late in the game, it's safe to assume Nick Fury will be making brief cameos and nothing more. The real excitement will probably come with whoever is accompanying him. Jackson wasn't sure whether his scenes would be appearing before or after the credits, but given that principal photography has already been completed on both films, post-credits sequences are a good bet.

As for The Avengers, Nick Fury will apparently have a female companion of sorts.

I gotta screen test like five actresses on Friday. They have this new character that's my sidekick or something, that's with me all the time.

Could this be Wasp, or the role that Demi Lovato was rumored to be up for, or one of the other main female roles that will hopefully balance out the team's excess of machismo?

Let the speculation begin.