10 Movie Scenes With Unexpected Influences

7. Charlton Heston's Eye Patch Was Inspired By Nick Fury - True Lies

Glass Onion Bean
Fox & Marvel Comics

James Cameron's ludicrously entertaining spy actioner True Lies boasts one hell of a stacked ensemble cast, including an inexplicably eyepatch-clad Charlton Heston in the role of Spencer Trilby - the surly head of U.S. counterterrorism outfit Omega Sector.

Heston only has a few brief scenes in the film but makes quite the impression regardless, no doubt aided by the curious aesthetic choice of the eyepatch.

Even for the film's pulpy standards, it feels a tad out of place, yet makes a little more sense when you consider that Cameron is a huge fan of comic books, and even flirted with becoming a comic book penciller in his youth.

As it turns out, Trilby's eyepatch and overall gruff personality were inspired by the original, pre-Samuel L. Jackson iteration of Marvel's Nick Fury - another eyepatch-wearing head of a peacekeeping organisation.

Given that so much of the film's over-the-top action feels like a glorious cartoon strip, it's fitting that Cameron drew from classic Marvel for one of True Lies' most prominent supporting characters.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.