The winds of change are sweeping through Hollywood, and they’re bringing a new Captain America with them. Anthony Mackie is officially stepping into the iconic red, white, and blue suit, taking over the mantle from Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers in Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth installment in the Marvel franchise.
For Mackie, this isn’t just another role—it’s a full-circle moment. Fans will remember him as Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Falcon, who first took flight in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and later played a key role in Captain America: Civil War (2016). But now, he’s got an even bigger responsibility—leading the charge as the new face of freedom.
Speaking at a recent press junket, Mackie reflected on what it meant to officially carry the shield.
“The biggest thing for me was the first day on set. All these people I had known for over a decade now, and everybody just came up and said congratulations,” he shared.
Mackie pointed out that many of the crew members, including his dresser Bob Moore and prop master Russell Bobbitt, had been part of his Marvel journey since Winter Soldier. “It was just like that family thing, where you see this character grow into fruition and get his moment to shine,” he added.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige emphasized that Brave New World was always meant to continue Sam Wilson’s journey as Captain America.
“We saw Steve Rogers pass the shield to Sam in Avengers: Endgame, and we wanted to explore what that truly meant,” Feige said. “It’s always about bringing new characters into the MCU, and this amazing cast did just that.”
Mackie believes Sam’s version of Captain America is something fresh and relatable. Unlike Steve Rogers, Sam hasn’t been enhanced with super-serum—he’s just a man with determination, courage, and an unwavering sense of justice.
“This movie establishes Sam as his own being, his own entity or incarnation of Captain America,” Mackie explained. “The fact that he’s never taken the serum, the fact that he’s every man’s Captain America—that’s something unique and rare.”
He added that this human approach will allow audiences to connect with Sam in a way they haven’t before. “He can give the perspective of the regular guy, as opposed to the super guy. And I think that’s something people can gravitate to and see themselves in.”
Sam won’t be facing this new chapter alone. Danny Ramirez steps into the role of Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon, and quickly becomes one of Sam’s strongest allies. Mackie had nothing but praise for his co-star.
“After spending five minutes with Danny, it’s impossible not to like him,” Mackie laughed. “His energy is infectious. From the first moment we met, we just clicked.”
And what about the inevitable comparisons between Sam and Steve? Mackie sees the connection, but also key differences.
“I think Steve chose Sam for the shield because of his integrity and humanity,” he noted. “But Sam brings a different perspective—he’s a veteran, a counselour, someone who listens. His compassion and understanding inform who he is as both Captain America and a human being.”
Brave New World introduces none other than Harrison Ford into the Marvel universe. The legendary actor takes on the role of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, now the President of the United States—and potentially something more sinister.
Ford was eager to dive into the MCU. “I was very happy with the opportunity to play in this playground,” he said. “What an amazing group of people to work with, and what an imaginative reality.”
He also acknowledged the legacy left by the late William Hurt, who previously played Ross. “I was honoured to build on the foundation that Bill Hurt provided for the character,” Ford shared.
Watch the trailer below:
Main Image: Vocal Media
