Anthony Mackie forges own path as new Captain America

By Baek Byung-yeul

Anthony Mackie steps into the spotlight with a fresh take on Captain America in Marvel Studios' latest film, "Captain America: Brave New World." As Sam Wilson, previously known as Falcon, Mackie takes up the iconic shield, marking a shift in the Marvel Cinematic Universe previously dominated by Chris Evans' portrayal of Steve Rogers.

"It's exciting. The idea of being Captain America was never something I thought about or considered as a possibility. It was much more than I had the ability to dream of as a young actor,” Mackie told Korean reporters during an online press conference on Wednesday.

"Sam Wilson is the perfect character to do that because of the characteristics that he possesses, the loyalty, the passion, the humanity and the empathy that he has makes him, you know, all the right attributes to be Captain of America."

"Captain America: Brave New World" is the fourth installment in the "Captain America" film series. In this film, Wilson navigates a world fraught with tension. Following the election of Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) as president of the United States, Wilson finds himself embroiled in an international incident and must uncover the true forces at play.

The film’s director, Julius Onah, who also joined the press event, explained that this narrative centers on Wilson's emotional journey rather than his physical power.

"I really focused on the emotional journey of his character and the emotional experience I wanted the audience to have. Sam [Wilson]'s superpower is his empathy, the way he seeks the good in other people, the way he's always trying to find a common humanity,” Onah said.

Unlike his predecessor, Rogers, Wilson's Captain America is an incomplete being, according to Mackie.

"The most compelling aspect of Sam Wilson is the fact that he never took the serum (a chemical solution to enhance the human body and mind). So his Captain America is one of honor, one of compassion, one of acceptance, one of understanding. And I think that's the biggest difference with this movie, as opposed to the other Captain America movies. Sam Wilson can't punch his way through his problems. He has to deal with them head-on,” Mackie said.

Mackie reminisced about Wilson's introduction in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," where he appeared as a counselor and veteran, embodying loyalty and trustworthiness.

"He was a loyal friend to Steve Rogers, and the biggest part of their relationship was the fact that Steve Rogers could trust him and go to him in his time of need when he felt nobody else had his back and that loyalty plays true and very pronounced in ‘Captain America: Brave New World.’”

The director added he referenced an action sequence from the 2005 Korean movie “A Bittersweet Life” to portray a “slightly weaker” superhero without the serum.

“I was really excited about leaning into a Captain America that [didn't take the] serum and establishing at [a part] of the movie how he takes down an adversary. I wanted [those] things [and] I'm so grateful that Mackie was game for [them],” he said.

“He has to improvise, he has to get scrappy. He's got to use what's around him. So it was action [and] character as well. It was also a fun opportunity to reference one of my favorite Korean movies, ‘A Bittersweet Life,’ where there's a great, great action sequence driven by the use of bricks. So I'm a huge fan of Korean cinema.”

When asked about the pressures of stepping into the role of Captain America, a character that has become so iconic around the world, Mackie noted that Wilson as Captain America is distinct from his predecessor.

“One thing Chris [Evans] said to me was when I read the script and saw the scene where I was going to become Captain America, he hugged me and he said, ‘You're going to be a great Cap.’ And that was really all we've ever said. There wasn't really any pressure because Sam Wilson is a different entity. He's a different being,” Mackie said.

Ultimately, Mackie believes Wilson's relatable qualities will resonate with audiences globally.

"I think Sam Wilson is the best version of all of us. When we look at him, we see all of those qualities, those good qualities within ourselves that we would like to exhibit to the world around us, and that's why we look up to him,” he added.

“Captain America: Brave New World” will hit theaters in Korea on Feb. 12.