The audition process for a Marvel Studios film has been talked about for years now. Most of the time, as was the case with Tom Holland, there’s a big shroud of mystery surrounding what roles are being auditioned for and what film it might be. But according to Kevin Feige, Anthony Mackie didn’t even have to go through any of that, as he was hand-picked by the studio to take on the role of Sam Wilson, aka Falcon.
Speaking to Variety, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige talked about the upcoming Disney+ series, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” particularly the series’ star Anthony Mackie. The actor joined the MCU for the 2014 film, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” as the supporting character, Sam Wilson, aka Falcon. However, over the years, Mackie’s role in the MCU has grown quite a bit, culminating in him presumably taking over the role of Captain America in the upcoming ‘Falcon’ series.
And according to Feige, the decision to add Mackie to the franchise was a no-brainer.
“The first experience was him being the unanimous first choice to play the character,” explained Feige. “We just offered him the role, in my memory, he did not audition. That’s only happened a handful of times at Marvel. Mr. Mackie was one of those times. I thought he would be great as this character. As we often do, when we’re casting, you cast for the immediate role at hand — which was Sam Wilson in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier,’ but if it all goes well, that can grow and evolve into numerous things. You want an actor who can do it all, which of course, Anthony can.”
Obviously, over the past 7 years, Mackie’s involvement in the MCU has proven Feige and his cohorts were on the money with adding the actor to the growing cadre of heroes. And the executive thinks that the actor fits in incredibly well over the years and has morphed into a de facto leader of the MCU, fitting with his new Captain America role.
“He’s good with a zinger, an action moment, and is also incredibly poignant,” said Feige. “What I think is great, and not dissimilar to the best of our actors, is when they start becoming as inspirational offscreen as they are on screen. I think Mackie, in his press and on set making this series, has become a leader that we look to for guidance in many ways.”
You can see Anthony Mackie continue his run in the MCU with the forthcoming “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+ on March 19.