Samuel L. Jackson Reveals Why He Got So Many F-Bombs In Snakes On A Plane

One of the many rules created by the MPAA surrounds swear words and how many of them – particularly of the f-bomb variety – movies are allowed to include. When it comes to PG-13 movies, one f-word is allowed, but more than that, and you’re in R territory, with a few exceptions.

Hoping to keep the movie open to as many potential viewers as possible, David R. Ellis initially had Samuel L. Jackson’s character only say one f-word in Snakes on a Plane.

The first person to realize how much the movie needed more f-bombs was none other than Samuel L. Jackson himself, as he recalls telling the production team, “‘Look, I gotta say motherf—er in this movie. There’s motherf—ing snakes all over this plane.’”

Knowing that this would mean an immediate R-rating, those in charge of getting the movie into theaters shut down Jackson’s request.

But, eventually, the higher-ups would change their minds because, just as Samuel L. Jackson knew all along, the film simply needed plenty of more f-bombs where that came from.

The actor recalls that during test screenings, audiences gave their input and shared the belief that Snakes on a Plane was a bit too deprived of the f-word.

With the team heading back to the drawing board, Jackson says that they spent tons of money on reshoots and even more cash for him to be allowed to drop his now iconic line.

For those who have never seen Samuel L. Jackson in the cinematic masterpiece Snakes on a Plane, the film revolves around Jackson’s Agent Flynn who’s been tasked with safely transporting a trial witness on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles.

In the most diabolical yet stupid move ever, a hitman sent to take out the witness releases a box of venomous snakes. It’s a wild premise and even wilder to see play out, as the entire cabin of passengers work together to rid themselves of the snakes on a plane.

The film is nothing short of iconic and, whether it was meant to or not, became an almost immediate cult classic.

While most critics thought the film was absolute trash, so many people were excited to see Samuel L. Jackson take on the serpents that by the time Snakes on a Plane slithered into cinemas, tickets were sold left and right. By the time the movie left theaters, it had raked in an impressive $62 million against its $33 million budget – much of which sounds like it was from the Marvel star’s unforgettable line.

How Samuel L. Jackson signed on to be part of Snakes on a Plane will forever be a mystery to us but we’re thrilled to know how the actor’s most quotable line made it into the movie.

Source: Deadline