Anthony Mackie Says He's Happy To Take Up Chadwick Boseman's Marvel Mantle

Many would agree that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is one of the hotly anticipated MCU projects in the ambitious Phase 4 slate of the franchise, and it's only a matter of time before fans will get to see what the show will be all about. Created by Malcolm Spellman (Empire), the series will look to explore the legacy of the Captain America mantle while Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes try to navigate a post-Blip world. 

Based on what's been revealed in Avengers: Endgame, it seems evident that Sam Wilson will be the MCU's next Captain America, but the marketing for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier widely suggests that this will not happen right away. Instead, the series is shaping up to be a showcase for Falcon's journey to becoming the star-spangled hero, which signals a pivotal move for the monumental franchise.  

Now, a new tidbit has surfaced that could offer clues on just how the show will tackle this transformation. 

ANTHONY MACKIE LOOKS TO CONTINUE CHADWICK BOSEMAN'S MCU LEGACY

Anthony Mackie recently sat down with Variety to discuss The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the greater MCU, and one of the points brought up was the topic surrounding representation. 

The outlet noted that Mackie is content to take up the mantle that had been carried by Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, one that would continue to inspire young Marvel fans worldwide.

Mackie explained that there was already a “hinted-at understanding” between him and the Boseman about the aforementioned subject, and it seems that he is looking forward to continuing what the late actor started in 2018's Black Panther: 

“For Chad and I, [representation] was never a conversation that needed to be had because of our backgrounds. There was a hinted-at understanding between the two of us, because we’re both from humble beginnings in the South; we have very similar backgrounds. We knew what the game was. We knew going into it.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATION IN THE MCU 

Mackie's comments strongly indicate that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will strive to continue what Black Panther started in terms of progressing the conversation surrounding race and representation. In many ways, this is a noteworthy move, and it is important for the show to continue this subject in compelling fashion. 

Interestingly, this isn't the first time that the topic of race was included in the promotion for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Malcolm Spellman previously shared that the upcoming series is a “nice progression with the mantle that [Black Panther director Ryan] Coogler and Chadwick [Boseman] left us,” and it looks like this will be further amplified right away when the show drops on Disney+. 

Sam's transformation into Captain America will serve as a huge moment not just for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier but for the franchise as well, and Mackie's remarks will certainly boost the anticipation surrounding that plot point. The character is poised to take the lead as a major figure of inspiration for the Black community, ultimately serving as a beacon of hope. 

While Sam's story in the MCU will likely evolve in surprising ways in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it's safe to say that a good chunk of it will no doubt spark necessary discussions about race and representation.