Anthony Mackie shares a sweet story on how Chris Evans told him he was Captain America
It's only fitting that OG Captain America actor Chris Evans was the one to break the big news to Anthony Mackie.
WeâÂÂre just weeks away from the release of Captain America: Brave New World, Marvel Studiosâ fourth entry in its Captain America saga, and Anthony MackieâÂÂs first theatrical outing as the titular hero. Of course, Chris Evansâ Cap is a tough act to follow, but luckily, Mackie had his support when he first found out he was being handed the shield.
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Anthony MackieâÂÂs ability to have chemistry with literally any of his Marvel co-stars needs to be studied. Throughout the Infinity Saga, we watched his Sam Wilson form an unlikely friendship with Steve Rogers (âÂÂOn your left!âÂÂ), whom the latter would ultimately pass the Captain America moniker to in the final moments of Avengers: Endgame. In my opinion, Sam and SteveâÂÂs BFF-ship isnâÂÂt appreciated enough and often gets overshadowed by MackieâÂÂs âÂÂodd coupleâ dynamic with Bucky Barnes actor, Sebastian Stan.
Still, Evans and Mackie are clearly real-life pals, so it only makes sense that Evans was the one who passed the torch to Mackie before taking his final MCU bowâÂÂeven if it wasnâÂÂt exactly intentional.
Speaking with Fandango, Mackie shared a sweet anecdote about the moment he discovered heâÂÂd be taking on the Cap mantle in the MCUâÂÂand itâÂÂs just as chaotic as youâÂÂd expect. From the sounds of it, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige didnâÂÂt give Mackie much of a heads-up about his characterâÂÂs promotion, leading Evans, whoâÂÂd already finished reading the Endgame script, to break the news while shooting in Atlanta. Ironically enough, Mackie actually thought Sam was going to be killed off, joking: âÂÂAnd you know, being Black, IâÂÂm like âÂÂIâÂÂmma die, damn. TheyâÂÂre getting rid of me, man.â Little did he know âÂÂŚ
âÂÂHe gets the new script. He goes to like the last 10 pages, and he goes âÂÂread it!â So me thinking they killed me off [âÂÂŚ] I get to the part and itâÂÂs like, you know, IâÂÂm reading the scene between us, and it goes âÂÂhe hands him the shield.â IâÂÂm like, âÂÂso why did you give me the shield? HeâÂÂs like, âÂÂbecause youâÂÂre f**king Captain America.â [âÂÂŚ] We hug, we jump up and downâÂÂŚ It was hilarious.âÂÂ
I think we can all agree that Sam earned the Captain America name, even if it took him a little time to fully accept that Steve was goneâÂÂas explored in the Disney+ The Falcon and the Winter Soldier miniseries. MackieâÂÂs gig as the next âÂÂStar Spangled Man with a Planâ is one of the few decisions Marvel has made post-Endgame that hasnâÂÂt been ripped to shreds by âÂÂfansâ (well, for the most part), as SamâÂÂs character development and his friendship with Steve made him the natural choice for Cap.
Moreover, Sam has had to discover for himself what being âÂÂCaptain Americaâ really means, and what it represents to him as a Black man living in America. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier absolutely went there when talking about the complicated legacy of the shield, via that Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) arc in episode 2. Based on what we know, Brave New World will continue to address these issues, on top of the whole, yâÂÂknow, Red Hulk (Harrison Ford) thing.
Hopefully, weâÂÂll get to see plenty more of MackieâÂÂs Cap in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret WarsâÂÂperhaps even with a little Multiversal cameo from Evans along the way. For now, however, Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on February 14, 2025.
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