It’s been five years since Steve Rogers handed the shield over to Sam Wilson at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, and finally Anthony Mackie is getting his solo shot on the big screen. Sam Wilson’s hesitation to carry the torch was explored in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, in which he grapples with complicated feelings about the country. But in Captain America: Brave New World (review here), Sam has other worries on his mind; such as General Thunderbolt Ross becoming President of the United States, a dangerous conspiracy inside the White House, and the emergence of the rare metal Adamantium that has nations fighting to claim it.
Mackie has big shoes to fill. Chris Evans made his mark as Captain America for years, becoming the centerpiece of the MCU in the process. He takes over at a political hot point in the country, and many of Brave New World’s themes mirror what’s happening in the country right now.
Joining Mackie in the cast is Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, aka Falcon. Torres has stepped up from helping out on the sidelines to going airborn as the new Falcon, and acts as Cap’s right hand man. He’s young, a bit rash, eager to prove himself, and the right balance as Cap also aims to prove to the world that he’s the right Captain America for right now.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, and director Julius Onah about Captain America: Brave New World. Mackie talked about his need to “level up” to the moment and claim the role for himself. He also talked about the moment he learned Harrison Ford would be joining the cast. Ramirez spoke about the expansion of Joaquin’s role in the MCU, and what it means to him to be part of such a huge franchise. Onah too on the biggest film of his career and talked about the opportunity to introduce so many elements that will have far-reaching impact on the MCU.
Captain America: Brave New World is in theaters now. Check out the interview below, and please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel for more!
