The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Anthony Mackie talks about the African American superhero

Anthony Mackie has said The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is set to be ‘forthright and very unapologetic’ about the experiences of his African American superhero.

The actor, 42, leads the show alongside fellow Marvel mainstay Sebastian Stan, and will see his character Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, wrestle with the idea of taking over the legacy, and shield, left behind by Chris Evans’ Captain America.

Speaking in an interview with Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday, Anthony said of the Disney+ show: ‘[It] is very honest and forthright and very unapologetic about dealing with the truth of what it means to be American, Captain America, Black Captain America — and if that’s even a thing.

‘I think picking up from where we left off at the end of [Avengers] Endgame, the show progresses extremely well by asking those questions and really explaining why Sam said the shield feels like it belongs to someone else.’

Anthony doesn’t think the show has ‘a defacto Captain America figure’, though, as he said the show is focused on what it means for Sam and Bucky Barnes (Stan) to be their superhero alter-egos when the Avengers are gone.

Going on to discuss taking the characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe into a TV show, Anthony admitted he had initial concerns and was ‘horrified’ at being the person to test out if a show format would work.

He explained: ‘The last thing you want to do is be the lead of the first thing that does not work, ’cause that’s 100 percent you. I don’t want to be the guy that destroys an entire Marvel franchise.’

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier focuses on Sam and Bucky, both of whom have a connected to the original Captain America (Evans) at different points in their lives. 

The show follows both of these characters – who have each carried the Captain America mantle in the Marvel Comics – as they, ‘team up on a global adventure that tests their abilities – and their patience.’  

The Falcon, Winter Soldier and Agent 13 (Emily VanCamp) all made their debut in the 2014 Marvel Studios hit Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

The villainous Baron Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) debuted in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, though it’s unclear what his mission is this time around.

They will be joined by new characters John Walker (Wyatt Russell), who in the Marvel Comics would ultimately become a new hero named U.S. Agent, and Sarah Wilson (Adepero Oduye), Sam’s sister. 

Malcolm Spellman (Empire) serves as the head writer for the six-episode series, with Kari Skogland directing each episode.

After The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Marvel will debut the highly-anticipated show Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston, on June 11.  

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier debuts Friday, March 19 on Disney Plus.