Samuel L. Jackson has buried the hatchet with Marvel Entertainment, making a deal to play the role of Nick Fury in "Iron Man 2," and potentially many other films.

Jackson's deal is a long-term commitment to play Fury, the leader of the espionage unit the Shield. His deal contains an option to play the character in nine future Marvel superhero films, efforts that are expected to include "Captain America," "Thor," "The Avengers" and "The Shield" as well as potential sequels.

Jackson introduced Fury in the closing moments of "Iron Man," when the character asked Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark to join his group. Fury is a natural to show up in multiple Marvel franchises, as he crosses paths with many Marvel superheroes in the comicbooks.

Jackson's Marvel future looked murky, after he reportedly expressed his displeasure with the producer-financier's initial offer to reprise his role. Jackson was hardly alone: Even though "Iron Man" grossed more than $600 million worldwide, Marvel brass has been sparing in offers to talent like Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell to play villains in the sequel, sources said.

Jackson and his ICM reps have evidently cleared those dealmaking hurdles, and he will take part in the sequel that director Jon Favreau shoots in the spring, with Paramount Pictures distributing in summer 2010.

Academy Award winning actress Halle Berry accepts the Power award at the 2nd annual Essence magazine's Black Women in Hollywood luncheon. The star-studded event honored four of Hollywood’s finest: Halle Berry (The Power Award), director Gina Prince-Bythewood (Visionary Award), Diahann Carroll (The Legend Award) and Taraji P. Henson (Lexus Star To Watch Award).

"As a woman, I thought it was all about work and accomplishments," said Berry, 42, at Essence magazine's Black Women in Hollywood luncheon. "Then this little baby comes along and says that it's not about that."

Tears streaming down her face as she held her Power award presented by the magazine, the actress said, "I'm complete. I have more to offer my craft because [my daughter] makes me indelibly better every day."

Berry was recognized for her acting, producing and philanthropic work. Colleagues like Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, and Warren Beatty all paid tribute to the actress, who admitted that she has "been [a] ghost for a while" as work has taken a backseat to motherhood.

Boyfriend Gabriel Aubry smiled in the audience as fellow honorees Diahann Carroll, The Secret Life of Bees director Gina Prince-Blythewood and Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson fought back tears at the second annual event.

The luncheon ended on a note of anticipation when Henson was recognized for her Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, as fingers were crossed for a win on Sunday.

"Halle Berry, girl ... I owe so much to you," said Henson, recognizing Berry's historic win for Best Actress in 2001. "I remember saying 'I want to do what she's doing'."

For the first time ever, Ebony magazine presents not one, not two, but eight quintessential covers to celebrate the 25 coolest Black men of all time. Jay-Z, Barack Obama, Prince, Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, Marvin Gaye, Muhammad Ali and Billy Dee Williams take center stage as they personify Black cool on the covers of this historic collector’s edition. From their sleek, debonair styles to their smooth-as-silk personas, these magnificent Black men have conveyed, captured, and conquered the quintessence of cool while making it appear effortless.