The upcoming Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier might just bring us a Black Captain America. Anthony Mackie, who has contemplated the development of a Black superhero, recently sat down for an interview discussing his character Sam Wilson’s future and what’s to come.
The upcoming MCU show will follow Sam and Bucky’s journey to defeat Baron Zemo in their mutual struggle of carrying on the legacy of Steve Rogers. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier comes out this Friday, March 19, on Disney+.
In the comics, Sam receives the shield and the mantle of Captain America from Rogers, and the same happens in the MCU. After Thanos’ defeat, Rogers passes on his shield to Wilson, evidently making him the next superhero to take up Captain America’s title.
However, it seems the MCU version might be slightly different, as Sam and Bucky both will take on the Captain America legacy in the second show of Marvel’s Phase 4.
Although the new series focuses on both heroes’ relationship, Sam looks like a better fit for the role. In an interview with Screen Rant, Anthony Mackie discussed the importance of the possible opportunity of playing a Black Captain America, especially after Hollywood mourned the death of Black Panther Chadwick Boseman in 2020.
Mackie noted the significance of the role going beyond the franchise and onto carrying the “weight of representing an underrepresented people—race or sex.”
“I think the weight of a Black Captain America is the same as the weight of a woman playing Captain Marvel, which is the same weight as any character of any race representing an underrepresented people—race or sex, I should say,”
Anthony Mackie to Screen Rant
In recent times, the MCU has been doing better in being diverse and bringing representation into the franchise after struggling gravely in those aspects for years. Phase One featured an arsenal of white, mostly male, heroes. Much later, the studio started making major strides towards incorporating more diversity in its cast, with films like Black Panther and Captain Marvel.
“We are going through a transitional phase; every 40 to 50 years, something will happen that will turn our country and the world on its axis. We didn’t see 2020 being that, but it just happened to be that. So, the idea of having a Black Captain America, I feel like it’s more gas on that fire to burn down the systematic nonsense that we were brought up in and we lived in up until now… Homophobia, racism, sexism is a part of the past,”
Anthony Mackie
As of now, like Hollywood, there is still a long way to go for the MCU. But, with the oncoming barrage of shows like Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel, and Moon Knight, Phase 4 might just be the push towards a more equitable world. As Mackie says, it’s all a part of expanding our horizons,
“All of it puts us in a position to be better people, to be better parents, and to live a better future. So, I think that’s just part of the fold, if that were to happen.”
Anthony Mackie
Source: Screenrant
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