Mackie reflected on his own childhood when he looked up to Superman, a superhero whose background was completely different from his own
Anthony Mackie, who takes on the iconic role of Captain America in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, recently revealed that he didn’t rely on comic books to prepare for the role. Instead, Mackie focused entirely on the film’s script, noting that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films are not strict adaptations of the comics but rather use them as a blueprint.
Mackie explained in an interview with Collider: “I literally just focused on the script. I mean, these stories are so interesting because they don’t do the comic books page by page by page. They use the comic books as a blueprint or outline. So you can have three or four different comic books in one movie. So I stayed away from the comic books and just utilised the script and the story and the background that we’ve created of Sam Wilson to develop him into the Captain America he is in the movie.”
This marks Mackie’s debut as Captain America, a role previously held by Chris Evans. For the actor, it’s not just about playing a superhero, but also carrying a significant responsibility, particularly when it comes to representing children of all races.
“I think just anyone taking up the mantle of Captain America, there’s a huge responsibility that comes along with that,” Mackie shared. “And my responsibility is not just to Black kids. It’s very important for Latino kids to look up and see a Black Captain America. It’s very important for white kids to look up and see a Black Captain America.”
Mackie reflected on his own childhood when he looked up to Superman, a superhero whose background was completely different from his own. “When I was a kid, one of my favourite superheroes was Superman. And I’d never been to the planet Superman was from. I never, you know, could be a white dude. But watching him, the integrity of the character made me want to put a sheet around my neck and fly around the house,” he said.
For Mackie, the essence of being a hero lies in the character’s integrity and the values they represent, rather than the color or symbol of their costume. “So it’s about what’s inside you. It’s about the idea of, when you see it, and you aspire to it, it’s the beauty of humanity that answers that question, not the symbol or the emblem and what you want to put on it,” he added.
In addition to Mackie, Captain America: Brave New World features Hollywood legend Harrison Ford, who joins the MCU as Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross/Red Hulk. Mackie spoke highly of Ford’s down-to-earth attitude on set, revealing that the veteran actor’s relaxed demeanor and humor were a pleasant surprise.
“Man, I’ll tell you, Harrison was kind of amazing. Like, I was blown away by how he came to set and just had fun and chilled out, laughed, and joked. He always hung out with the crew and didn’t separate himself over in some VIP area,” Mackie recalled. “He was really just down to Earth, and really nice, cracking jokes. I was just surprised. There’s nothing better you can ask for than Harrison Ford just showing up and supporting the team for the whole shoot. It was great.”
Mackie’s portrayal of Captain America is sure to be an exciting new chapter in the MCU, as his approach to the character emphasizes not just the physicality of the superhero but the deeper, universal values that make the role so impactful to audiences of all backgrounds.
