Marvel Studios
Anthony Mackie is set to make his feature film debut as Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World, having taken over the role from Chris Evans at the conclusion of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. And as the new Captain America, Mackie has naturally been asked questions about the country that his super-heroic character is named after.
Earlier this week, Anthony Mackie received a bit of blowback when he said that “Captain America represents a lot of different things and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations.”
The actor would later clarify his quote, saying he’s “a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like CAP is the honor of a lifetime.”
“I have the utmost respect for those who serve and have served our country. CAP has universal characteristics that people all over the world can relate to,” he added in a post on his Instagram Story.
Mackie certainly has a point about Captain America not necessarily representing America: for example, most of the character’s movies consist of him being at odds with the United States government, with Captain America: Brave New World seemingly continuing that motif. The character of Captain America always acts based on what he believes in right and not whatever’s in the best interest of the government.
Another aspect of the film that Mackie was recently pressed on was comparisons between Donald Trump and Red Hulk, who is played by Harrison Ford (Ford is playing President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, taking over the role from the late William Hurt.
“I hope, as a country, we’re tired of all the political jousting. Let’s just go to the movies and chill the f— out. We could’ve made this motherf—– yellow and it would’ve been a problem,” Mackie said in an interview with Esquire.
Alongside Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Captain America: Brave New World stars Harrison ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Xosha Roquemore, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tim Blake Nelson. Captain America: Brave New World is one of three Marvel films hitting theaters this year alongside Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Check out the official synopsis and trailer for Captain America: Brave New World, which hits theaters on February 14, below.
“After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, played by Harrison Ford in his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.”