Marvel’s Phase 5 of the MCU will see Sam Wilson formally take on the mantle of Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World and the film’s lead Anthony Mackie has teased what fans can expect from Sam Wilson as he becomes the new Captain America.
In an interview with Inverse, Mackie said of taking on the role as an actor, especially following in the footsteps of Chris Evans, “There’s a huge amount of pressure. You throw my dumb ass in the water, and you’re like, ‘Swim.’ I’m like, ‘Shit.’ But at the same time, it’s all in the state of mind. I’ve been given a great cast. I’ve been given a great group of people who I’ve worked with before.”
Sam Wilson, previously known as The Falcon, was one of several Avengers to be snapped out of existence by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. He was brought back along with everyone else snapped and fought the final battle against the Mad Titan in Avengers: Endgame. In the closing moments of that film, an elderly Steve Rogers passed the shield onto Sam with the intention of Sam becoming the new Captain America. The Marvel series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showed this wasn’t a smooth transition as Sam initially gave the shield up to be a memorial only for the US government to turn around and make an unwise choice in picking their own Captain America before Sam took the shield back.
Captain America: Brave New World will see Sam officially settle into his role as Captain America and will, according to Mackie, take place shortly after Falcon and the Winter Soldier. “Brave New World picks up pretty much right after that with Sam back in the fold of, ‘how do I fit into this superhero world?'”
He also spoke about how audiences will see the contrast in the way Sam carries the shield as opposed to Steve Rogers, stressing Sam’s compassion and ability to connect and deescalate situations, a trait we saw much of in Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
“It’s more so about his ability to connect and counsel,” Mackie said “He’s not as rash to bear arms as Steve Rogers was. Having a super serum makes you impossible to beat, so your answer to everything is to fight it out. Whereas Sam Wilson can actually die pretty easily. He realized that his ability is not to change the world with force; it’s about giving people the wherewithal and the recognition that they deserve so that they can make a change. I can go around and beat up people all day; it won’t matter. Those people are going to come right back and do the same shit.”
Captain America: Brave New World will star Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, Harrison Ford as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, a returning Liv Tyler reprising her role as Betty Ross from The Incredible Hulk, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, Tim Blake Nelson as The Leader, and Shira Haas as Sabra. Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) is directing from a script penned by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier writer Malcolm Spellman & Dalan Musson.
Captain America: Brave New World is set for a July 26th, 2024 release date.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.
