Anthony Mackie: MCU's New Permanent Captain America?

Ever since Chris Evans hung up his Captain America shield in Avengers: Endgame, rumors have swirled about his potential return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Steve Rogers. Despite his repeated denials and claims of being "happily retired," the persistence of these rumors stems from a fundamental aspect of comic books: characters rarely stay dead for long.

In the world of comics, death and rebirth are common occurrences. Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, is no exception. After his assassination following the 2007 Civil War storyline, the mantle was temporarily passed to Bucky Barnes. However, as is often the case, Rogers was eventually brought back to life and resumed his iconic role. A few years later, another twist saw Steve's super-soldier serum neutralized, leading to Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon, taking up the shield. This storyline directly influenced the MCU, culminating in Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson becoming the star of Captain America: Brave New World.

Despite Sam Wilson's tenure as Captain America in the comics, Steve Rogers eventually returned to his role. This pattern of legacy characters returning is not unique to Captain America; similar storylines have played out with Batman, Spider-Man, and Green Lantern, fueling speculation about Evans' potential comeback. However, is Anthony Mackie's position as Captain America at risk, or is he the MCU's permanent Captain America?

In a recent interview, Mackie expressed hope that his role would continue, stating, "I don’t know. I think when you look at Sam Wilson, I guess the life or the span of him being Captain America goes with how well the movie does. So go see the movie!" He believes that by the end of Brave New World, audiences will fully accept Sam Wilson as Captain America.

While Mackie may not know his character's ultimate fate, the MCU's approach to character permanence suggests a different trajectory than the comics. Since its inception in 2008, the MCU has maintained a greater sense of finality when it comes to character deaths. Villains like Malekith, Kaecilius, and Ego are unlikely to return, and it seems Steve Rogers has indeed said his final goodbye.

Nate Moore, a veteran MCU producer, acknowledges the difficulty some fans have in letting go of Steve Rogers but emphasizes the MCU's commitment to Sam Wilson as the new Captain America. "We love Steve Rogers, he’s so fantastic. But I think that by the end of this movie, audiences are going to feel that Sam Wilson is Captain America, full stop," Moore stated.

When asked if Anthony Mackie is the MCU's permanent Captain America, Moore was unequivocal: "He is. He is. And we’re so happy to have him." From the final episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier onward, Sam Wilson is the MCU's Captain America until his storyline concludes. This sense of permanence sets the MCU apart from its comic book origins, where characters often cycle through death and rebirth.

Julius Onah, director of Captain America: Brave New World, highlighted the significance of character permanence in storytelling. "When Tony Stark dies, that's a big deal," he said. "As a storyteller, you're just looking for the best dramatic playground for your actors to bring these characters to life. So it was a real treat for me to be able to [work with Sam’s role] in the MCU."

Onah also expressed excitement about Sam Wilson's future leadership role with the Avengers, underscoring the importance of the Captain America title in the MCU's narrative landscape.

By instilling a sense of permanence in its films, Marvel aims to differentiate the MCU from the cyclical nature of comic books. "I do think [permanent change] does make the MCU feel different than it did in phase one through three," Moore explained. "Sam is Captain America, not Steve Rogers. He's a different person. And I think if you ask Sam who would be on the Avengers, it might be a different collection of people than Steve [would suggest]. So the way Sam might go about it could be completely different."

Moore also noted that exploring these changes is part of the fun for both the creators and the fans. "Because we want to explore every avenue – much like our fans do – and make sure if and when the time is right for the Avengers to come back, it's an Avengers that feels different, but also is worthy of the Avengers name."

With many original Avengers now retired or deceased, the MCU's next major event promises to be distinct from the Infinity War/Endgame era, widely regarded as the pinnacle of Marvel Studios' achievements. One thing is certain: Anthony Mackie will be at the forefront, leading the Avengers as the one and only Captain America. After all, Marvel has never intentionally misled fans about casting only to pull a surprise later, right?