Samuel L. Jackson on his new HBO film “The Sunset Limited”

Samuel L.  Jackson stars in the new HBO film “The Sunset Limited” based on the play written by Cormac McCarthy, and co-starring Tommy Lee Jones.

The premise is simple: Two characters, one named White (played by Tommy Lee Jones) and one named Black (Jackson) meet after Black has saved White from killing himself. Black is an evangelical Christian who believes he can save the cynical, atheist White — and a one-and-a-half hour debate about the meaning of life, existence of God, and use of the N-word ensues. Entirely set in Black’s dilapidated New York apartment, “The Sunset Limited” premieres on HBO Feb. 12.

When asked why he would agree to co-star in a film so vastly different than the high octane, action packed movies that have made him a star, Jackson’s answer is a simple one:

“TL [Tommy Lee Jones] called me and said he had this play he was going to shoot for HBO and he wanted to send it to me and see if I was interested and I said ‘Sure I’ll do it man, it’s you.”

To read a full interview with Samuel L. Jackson about his experience making this film, go to: WSJ.com