“When I was a kid, I didn’t have that”: Anthony Mackie Broke Down in Tears After He Was Cast as Falcon in MCU For a Heartwarming Reason

Anthony Mackie was a rising actor who had worked up his way in the early 2000s. He began to get prolific roles in the 2010s in acclaimed films such as The Hurt Locker, The Adjustment Bureau, and Pain and Gain. His career had a huge boost when he was cast as the Marvel superhero Falcon in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Mackie had long desired to be a Marvel superhero. Before he became Falcon, he even sent letters to Kevin Feige to cast him in the MCU. He knew how much it would mean for him and people like him to be represented in a widely known franchise as a cool superhero.

Also read: Anthony Mackie’s First Outing as Captain America Deleted a Risky Storyline That Hit Too Close to Home

Anthony Mackie Was in Tears When He Was Cast as The Falcon in the MCU

Anthony Mackie’s lifelong desire to become a superhero came true when he was cast as the Falcon in the MCU. He debuted as the character in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He provided a different and interesting dynamic to the film and his cool gadgets were loved by fans.

It seems Mackie had an extremely emotional reaction when he was cast as the character. In the latest book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, it is revealed that Mackie broke down in tears when he heard the news of his casting. He knew that it was a significant step in the field of representation of African-Americans (as capable and cool superheroes) in a widely-known franchise

He didn’t have such an inspirational fictional figure to look up to when he was a kid and hoped that the character would change that for young kids at present. An excerpt from the book reads,

“He knew just how much cultural weight came with the character. ‘When I heard I got the role I broke down in tears’ he said, ‘I realized two years from that date, some little brown boy was going to be at my door in a Falcon costume on Halloween. When I was a kid, I didn’t have that.'”

Mackie had a supporting character arc throughout the Infinity Saga. But all that changed when he became the lead of the MCU series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He also became the new Captain America and is set to lead the next Captain America film next year. Mackie is undoubtedly having a dream run in the MCU.

Also read: “I wanted to redesign New York”: Anthony Mackie Had Massive Ambition as a Child Before Becoming an Actor Because of an “Old white dude”

Anthony Mackie Is Incredibly Nervous About his First Film As Captain America

Anthony Mackie is starring as the new Captain America in the 2024 film Captain America: Brave New World. Taking over the role from Chris Evans and his incredible portrayal of Steve Rogers was such a behemoth task for Mackie. It is a new added responsibility and Mackie expressed the enormous pressure that he felt while shooting the film. He told Inverse,

“There’s a huge amount of pressure. You throw my dumb ass in the water, and you’re like, ‘Swim.’ I’m like, ‘Sh*t.’ But at the same time, it’s all in the state of mind. I’ve been given a great cast. I’ve been given a great group of people who I’ve worked with before. “[Brave New World] picks up pretty much right after that, with Sam back in the fold of, How do I fit into this superhero world?”

It remains to be seen whether Mackie does full justice as Captain America when the film releases on July 26, 2024. In 2023, Mackie starred in Peacock’s Twisted Metal and also led the sci-fi romance film If You Were the Last.

Also read: “I almost killed Anthony Mackie”: Brooklyn Nine-Nine Actress Nearly Decapitated MCU Star With an Axe