Captain America shouldn’t represent America? That’s what Captain America :Brave New World star, Anthony Mackie said in a recent European interview.
As of this writing, Marvel Studios is in major damage control mode.
Mackie released this statement after the backlash:
Here’s why Mackie stepped in it.
“For me Captain America represents a lot of different things and I don’t think the term, you know, America should be one of those representations. Like, uh, it’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor , dignity and integrity…”
Mr. Mackie, the character’s name is Captain America and besides that, he wears a costume based on the American flag. How can you expect him not to represent the country?
The character debuted in World War 2 punching out a certain Nazi dictator on the cover of his first comic issue and has stood and fought for American ideals ever since.
Either Mackie felt he had to say this in front of a European audience to promote the film, or this is what he really thinks. Whatever the case, this guy who plays the title role of, who I like to call, “Captain African-American”, has given the viewing public yet another reason not to waste their money on this movie.
Captain America : Brave New World has gone through multiple re-shoots due to disastrous test screenings and is experiencing underwhelming advance ticket sales. In other words, insiders expect another Disney movie flop.
The problem with the movie is it features Captain America, but without Steve Rogers, the one and only Star Spangled Avenger. Mackie was originally The Falcon in the Marvel Universe, a historical character as Marvel Comics’ second black superhero.
Frankly, Marvel messed up passing Captain America’s shield to Sam Wilson/aka The Falcon. He was a perfectly fine and likable character in his own right. Why make him a hand-me-down hero?
Yes Sam Wilson became Cap in the comics, back in the 2010’s but sales tanked on the book .
Woke politics caused Marvel to virtue signal, race-swapping the character. Fans hated the change, voicing Cap should have passed the mantle to Bucky,/The Winter Soldier his friend from World War 2 who, like Rogers was enhanced by the super soldier serum.
Bucky was a more successful Captain America in the comics because of the dynamic of him once being the brainwashed assassin, the Winter Soldier.
The problem most fans have with the new Captain America is he doesn’t have super strength. He just a regular guy with mechanical wings.
Anthony Mackie is a likable actor, but, sorry, he’s best as a supporting actor, not a leading man. Marvel knows this which is why Red Hulk is in the movie to boost ticket sales. At least that what Marvel execs are hoping.
But now those hopes are waning with Mackie’s ill-advised comments.
Captain America : Brave New World is scheduled for release during Black History Month (coincidence?) on February 14.