Anthony Mackie has been a key figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Playing Sam Wilson let him be more than just Falcon. When the time came for Steve Rogers to lay down his shield, Wilson picked it up. As the new Captain America, Anthony Mackie had more to worry about than Hydra. The character was created as a symbol of America, but Mackie’s feelings on the character seem to have changed. During a promotional event in Rome on Monday for his new movie Captain America: Brave New World, Mackie was asked for his thoughts on the character. He reportedly didn’t hold back.
Anthony Mackie’s Comments Get Mixed Reaction
The American political landscape has only become more fraught since Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Mackie may be one of the latest to express his feelings on the matter, but he isn’t the first. The MCU actor reportedly had this to say about the role:
Captain America represents a lot of different things & I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations. It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity.
Unsurprisingly, the response from social media was mixed. While some fans denounced his statements, others praised them. One X user, @NotRyanDrendel, even posted a picture from a Captain America comic in which the superhero appears to echo Mackie’s precise message. “Well, I say America is nothing!” The First Avenger says in the comic. “Without its ideals– its commitment to the freedom of all men, America is a piece of trash!“
Some in the comment section seemed more focused on the impact the actor’s words might have on the MCU and comic book movies in general. As one commenter claimed, “right or wrong the opinion he just said out loud killed any chance of this movie making money [sic].” The post’s creator, however, was having none of it, saying,
Anthony Mackie is right, argue with a wall
Captain America is supposed to be more than just a nationalist symbol. The character was punching Hitler on the cover of Captain America Comics #1 before the U.S. even joined WWII. Fighting fascism is in the character’s blood. With modern America looking more like 1940s Germany and less like the values Cap is supposed to embody, it’s little wonder Mackie sees the character this way. Anthony Mackie may not make Disney happy with his opinion of Captain America, but he’d make the First Avenger proud.
