When people think about Samuel L. Jackson in Tarzan, they usually expect the typical "Jackson" energy. You know the one. Loud. Kinetic. Maybe a little bit terrifying. But his role in the 2016 film The Legend of Tarzan was something else entirely, and honestly, it’s the only reason that movie holds up today.
He didn't just play a sidekick.
Jackson portrayed a real person named George Washington Williams. Most folks walking into the theater probably thought he was just there for comic relief next to Alexander Skarsgård’s abs. They were wrong. Williams was a Civil War veteran, a minister, and a politician who actually traveled to the Congo. He was the guy who blew the whistle on the horrific human rights abuses committed by King Leopold II of Belgium.
The Surprising Reality of Samuel L. Jackson in Tarzan
Let’s get one thing straight. The Legend of Tarzan is a weird movie. It tries to be a classic pulp adventure while simultaneously tackling the dark, bloody history of Belgian colonialism. It’s a tough tightrope to walk. Without Samuel L. Jackson, the whole thing would have probably collapsed into a heap of CGI vines and questionable pacing.
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Jackson’s George Washington Williams acts as the audience's surrogate. He’s the one asking the hard questions. While Tarzan is swinging around and talking to gorillas, Williams is on the ground, sweating, struggling to keep up, and witnessing the devastation of the Congo Free State.
The contrast is wild. Skarsgård is almost ethereal. Jackson is grounded. He brings a grit that feels necessary because the history he’s representing isn't fiction. The real George Washington Williams wrote an "Open Letter" to King Leopold in 1890. It was a scathing indictment of the "crimes against humanity" he saw. It’s worth noting that Williams actually coined that phrase—"crimes against humanity"—in that very letter.
Why the "Sidekick" Label Doesn't Fit
Calling him a sidekick feels cheap. Usually, the sidekick is there to get captured or tell jokes. While Jackson does provide some much-needed levity—watching a 60-something-year-old man try to keep pace with a superhuman jungle man is objectively funny—his stakes are higher.
He’s there on a mission of redemption.
In the film, Williams hints at his own dark past, specifically his involvement in the Indian Wars and the American Civil War. This adds a layer of complexity you don't usually see in summer blockbusters. He isn't a "perfect" hero. He’s a man who has seen too much blood and wants to stop more from being spilled.
Director David Yates made a specific choice here. By placing Samuel L. Jackson in Tarzan, he anchored a fantasy story in a brutal reality. If you take Jackson out of the film, you’re left with a somewhat hollow story about a white man returning to Africa. With him, the movie becomes a story about witnessing an atrocity and deciding to do something about it.
The Chemistry Between Skarsgård and Jackson
The movie works best when these two are bickering. It’s a classic buddy-cop dynamic, but set in 1890s Africa. You have the stoic, silent Lord Greystoke and the fast-talking, pistol-wielding American.
- Jackson uses two revolvers.
- He wears a suit in the jungle.
- He’s constantly out of breath.
It’s relatable. Who wouldn't be out of breath?
The scene where he has to jump off a cliff to follow Tarzan is a standout moment. It captures the essence of his character—terrified, out of his element, but fundamentally driven by a sense of duty. He doesn't want to be there. He has to be there.
Fact vs. Fiction: The Real George Washington Williams
While the movie takes massive liberties (the real Williams didn't help Tarzan fight a Belgian army with a stampede of wildebeest), the core of the character is shockingly accurate to the man's spirit.
- The Military Background: The real Williams lied about his age to fight in the Union Army at 14. He later fought in Mexico. He was a warrior long before he was a writer.
- The Investigation: He went to the Congo in 1890, not to help a jungle man, but to see if the Congo was a good place for Black Americans to emigrate. He found a nightmare instead.
- The Legacy: He died in England on his way back from Africa. He never saw the full impact of his writing, but he sparked the first international human rights movement of the 20th century.
It’s rare for a big-budget movie to sneak in a history lesson like that. Most people remember Samuel L. Jackson in Tarzan for the "licking a spider" joke (which was improvised, by the way), but the historical weight he carries is what gives the movie its backbone.
Critical Reception and the Jackson Effect
Critics were split on the film. Some felt the "white savior" tropes were still too prevalent. Others argued that the inclusion of Williams was a smart way to subvert those tropes. Jackson himself has been vocal about why he took the role. He wanted to play a hero who looked like him in a setting where Black characters are often relegated to the background.
His presence changed the marketing. It changed the vibe on set. It changed how audiences perceived the stakes.
The movie ended up grossing about $356 million worldwide. That’s not a massive "hit" by modern standards, but it’s a respectable showing. A large chunk of that interest came from the curiosity of seeing Jackson in a period piece adventure. He doesn't do many of these. He’s usually in modern thrillers or sci-fi epics. Seeing him with a 19th-century rifle and a bowler hat was a draw.
The Problem With the Narrative
Even with Jackson’s powerhouse performance, the movie struggles with the weight of the Tarzan legacy. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the original books in a very different time, and those stories carry a lot of colonial baggage.
By centering Samuel L. Jackson in Tarzan as the moral compass, the filmmakers tried to modernize the story. Does it perfectly solve the issues of the source material? No. But it makes the movie watchable in a way it wouldn't be otherwise. It moves the focus away from "Tarzan is the king of the jungle" to "These men are trying to stop a genocide."
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Actionable Takeaways for Movie Fans
If you’re going back to rewatch The Legend of Tarzan, or if you’ve never seen it, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Look past the CGI: The animals are all digital, which can be distracting. Focus on the character beats between Jackson and Skarsgård instead.
- Research George Washington Williams: After the credits roll, spend ten minutes on Wikipedia looking up the real man. His life story is arguably more incredible than the fictional Tarzan’s.
- Watch the background: The film does a decent job of showing the scale of the Belgian railway projects, which were a key part of Leopold’s exploitation of the region.
- Note the weaponry: Jackson’s character uses era-appropriate firearms that contrast sharply with the traditional weapons used by the various tribes, highlighting the technological gap exploited by colonizers.
The performance of Samuel L. Jackson in Tarzan serves as a reminder that even in the middle of a big-budget "popcorn" movie, there’s room for historical gravity. He didn't just show up for a paycheck; he brought a forgotten hero back into the spotlight. Whether you like the movie or not, you can't deny that Jackson made George Washington Williams a name worth remembering.
Ultimately, the film is a strange hybrid. It’s half-superhero movie, half-historical drama. It doesn't always work perfectly, but it’s ambitious. And in a world of cookie-cutter sequels, that ambition—fueled by Jackson’s infectious energy—is worth a look. He turns what could have been a forgettable role into the heartbeat of the film.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge:
- Read King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild. It provides the full, devastating context of the events George Washington Williams was investigating.
- Compare this performance to Jackson’s other historical roles, like Stephen in Django Unchained, to see how he navigates different facets of Black history on screen.
- Check out the original 1890 "Open Letter" by Williams to see just how much of his dialogue in the movie was inspired by his real-life writings.