Now that the dust has settled and “Avengers: Endgame” has gone on to capture just about every major box office award in history, fans are beginning to look toward the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the heroes that are left to carry the torch. And while he was a supporting player in the films of the first three phases, many believe that Anthony Mackie will be one of the characters asked to carry the load as we move into the future, as the actor’s character Sam Wilson is now the man carrying the shield as the new Captain America.
And in a new interview with Deadline, Mackie talks about the upcoming series, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” as well as the emotions of being Captain America and what it means for a Black man to wear the costume in 2019. Needless to say, it’s a duty that the actor doesn’t take lightly.
“You know what, to be honest, it’s very emotional,” said Mackie. “I’ve been in the business for 20 years and I’ve been fortunate to do some amazing stuff and work with amazing people. For me, to be a Black man in 2019 and be given the helm of Captain America with the history of Black men in this country is a monumental step, not only in entertainment but also in my life.”
He added, “It’s been extremely emotional. Look, my grandfather was a sharecropper, you know what I mean? There’s a lot of history and pain and triumph and joy that comes along with me being Captain America.”
And though Mackie has a personal, emotional feeling towards being Captain America, the actor believes that him suiting up in the red, white, and blue means something more for Black people in America, especially when it comes to conversations that Black parents can have with their children.
“In the past, it was always the conversation as Black fathers that we had with our kids about how to be safe when they left home, about how not to entice police officers, about how not to walk through certain neighborhoods,” he explained. “But now we can have the conversation with our sons about what it means for him to grow up and possibly be Captain America. It’s been a very emotional few months.”
Even though Mackie has been going through the emotional journey while in pre-production and filming the upcoming series, you have to imagine that will be amped up even more when the first images of him in the suit hit the internet, followed by the actual show. But we still have about a year before that happens, as Disney+ isn’t expected to premiere “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” until fall 2020.
