Award-winning Hollywood actor Samuel L Jackson is expected to grace T&T shores next month. The Die Hard: With a Vengeance and Soul Men actor tops the list of celebrities who will visit this country for the bmobile Blackberry International Soca Monarch finals on February 12. He will accompany his friend, actor and film director Danny Glover, who came to T&T last year at the invitation of the Caribbean Prestige Foundation. The Foundation's chairman, William Munroe, disclosed the news of Jackson's visit yesterday.
He said: "Because of the warm reception Danny Glover got in Trinidad last year, he promised to return with several celebrity friends this year." Jackson is one of them, Munroe noted. He said he was unsure of the other celebrities who may be coming with Glover. On his arrival in T&T last year Glover was taken aback by T&T's culture. "Make no mistake, this is quite the greatest show on earth," he said. Rush Hour star Chris Tucker also visited T&T for the competition last year but Munroe said he was not certain whether the actor will come this time around. "Danny Glover and Chris Tucker usually ride as partners but I don't know if he (Tucker) is coming back," Munroe said. "I only know that Samuel Jackson is on that list to come with Danny Glover," he added.
Contacted yesterday, an official of Prestige Foundation said that the list of celebrities attending the Soca Monarch competition will be finalised by next week and will be released to the media soon. Munroe said Jackson's exact date of arrival is yet to be finalised as the actor has several upcoming movies and may have to "plan according to schedule". Jackson, who turned 61 last month, is set to star this year in the drama Mother and Child as well as in Unthinkable in which he will portray an interrogator who attempts to locate several nuclear weapons. In 2008, he made an uncredited appearance as Nick Fury in the post-credit scene of Iron Man with the intention to lead to roles in future films based on Marvel Comics characters.
Then, in February 2009, Jackson signed on to a nine-picture deal with Marvel which would see him appear in Thor, Iron Man 2, The First Avenger: Captain America and the Avengers as well as any other sequel they may produce. Apart from that, Jackson has appeared in over 100 other films including Pulp Fiction, Unbreakable, Kill Bill Vol. 2, Rules of Engagement, Coach Carter and Soul Men. Glover also has a wide range of highly acclaimed films associated with his name. He is well known for his top roles The Colour Purple, Lethal Weapon and Predator 1 and Predator 2.
Soca Monarch
Power and Groovy Soca Monarch Queen Faye-Ann Lyons will defend both crowns on Fantastic Friday. Her husband, Bunji Garlin, who copped first place in the Power Soca segment last year, will not compete this year. Top prize for the Power Soca has been reduced from $1 million to a little over $600,000 while the Groovy first prize is being increased from $150,000 to over $200,000. The semi-finals of the competition will be held on Sunday, at the Arima Velodrome where 42 local and international artistes will vie for a spot in the finals.