Anthony Mackie reveals that he got to know about his Captain America lead role from Chris Evans

Anthony Mackie, in the upcoming Marvel superhero film Captain America: Brave New World, reveals how he got to know about his lead role of Captain America from Chris Evans.

Noted for his iconic portrayal of Sam Wilson/ Falcon/ Captain America in several films and series from the Marvel Cinematic Universe from 2014 to 2021, wherein at the ending of The Avengers: Endgame (2019), he was entrusted with the mantle of Captain America, that made him the next Captain America in his appearance in the most recent miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021).

This time, however, Anthony Mackie comes back with his role of Sam Wilson/ Captain America in a full-fledged, independent film in Captain America: Brave New World.

How did Anthony Mackie know about his lead role as Captain America?

Expand Tweet

Anthony Mackie spoke to Fandango in his recent interview talk along with co-actor Danny Ramirez and director Julius Onah, who revealed how he got to know about his role of Captain America in Avengers: End Game from Chris Evans. Anthony Mackie recalls the instance when he got to know about his role while he was watching a game at Chris Evans's place, as he mentions how he thought his character would be killed, referring to certain cinematic tropes representing people of African-American descent. He mentions:

"... so he [Chris Evans] comes down, he goes, he gets the new script he goes to like the last 10 pages and he goes "Read it!", so me thinking they killed me off [....] I get to the part where it's like you know I'm reading the scene between us and he goes, he hands him the shield, so I am like "Why'd you give me the shield?", he's like "cause you're f*cking Captain America!"

Anthony Mackie is the first Black man to have essayed the role of Captain America, and it shall be such a huge delight and excitement to watch him in his much-loved portrayal of Captain America in a full-length movie based on his character in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World.

According to Deadline, Anthony Mackie stated at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, he mentions how distinct his portrayal of Captain America is going to be this time, as he would not be having the Super Hero Serum, about which he stated that one can "fight anybody" when one has the Serum. Prior to Anthony Mackie, Chris Evans had essayed the role of Captain America.

Anthony Mackie states how his character in the upcoming film relies more on his intellect and mental strength as opposed to physical strength, as he mentions:

“When you don’t have the serum, you have to be smart and engineer different ways of defeating [enemies]. With Sam, him being a counselor, he uses more of his brains than brawn. He uses more of his wit than his fist. He’s more of a friend to everyone.”

He also reveals how he got in touch with reading comics only post his casting as Sam Wilson/ The Falcon, and how he has been more into watching cartoons. He also shared that he feels out of all the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America creates a more pragmatic world, and that is what makes it distinctive.

As per CBR, at the same event, Anthony Mackie further highlights how shall we witness Sam Wilson in Captain America: Brave New World, as he mentions:

“Sam’s evolution is simple. He’s still a counselor. He’s still serving soldiers, but at the same time, now he’s a leader of his community in the country.”

Along with Anthony Mackie in its lead role, we have Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly and many more joining the cast.

Directed by Julius Onah, Captain America: Brave New World shall make its theatrical release on 14th February 2025.