Anthony Mackie reveals Chris Evans passed Captain America role

Anthony Mackie has opened up about the emotional moment when Chris Evans personally told him that he would be taking over the role of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Mackie, 45, had already been part of the MCU for several years before officially stepping into the iconic role. He first appeared as Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014. Over time, his character became an important member of the Avengers and developed a close friendship with Steve Rogers, played by Evans.

However, the transition from Falcon to Captain America was not something Mackie learned about through a formal announcement. Instead, Evans himself gave him an early look at the script and personally shared the news with him.

Mackie recalled being at Evans’ home when the actor received the script pages before everyone else. Since Evans had portrayed Captain America for nearly a decade, he was naturally among the first people to receive important material connected to the character.

According to Mackie, Evans asked him whether he had read the new scene. When Mackie said that he had not, Evans took him downstairs and handed him the script so he could read it for himself.

The moment was particularly meaningful for Mackie because he was learning about a major change in the MCU directly from the actor who had defined Captain America for years.

Mackie described the experience as emotional and said he appreciated the way Evans handled the situation. He explained that Evans could have simply moved on from the character, but instead chose to celebrate the transition with a fellow actor and friend.

For Mackie, the moment also carried an unusual significance because he was effectively stepping into the role that had made Evans one of the most recognizable faces of the Marvel franchise.

Evans first appeared as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011. He went on to portray the character in several Marvel films, becoming closely associated with the shield, the Captain America identity and the Avengers.

Steve Rogers’ story appeared to reach its conclusion in Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019. At the end of the film, an older Steve returned after completing his mission and passed the Captain America shield to Sam Wilson.

The scene marked an important turning point for Mackie’s character. Sam had spent years fighting alongside Steve as Falcon, but the shield symbolized a new chapter and officially connected him to the Captain America legacy.

Mackie eventually took on the title in Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, continuing Sam Wilson’s story as the new Captain America.

However, the character’s future has become more complicated following the return of Evans in Marvel’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The recently revealed trailer has brought Steve Rogers back into the Marvel storyline, creating questions about how his appearance will connect with Sam Wilson’s role.

It is currently unclear how much screen time Evans will have in the film or whether his return will affect Mackie’s position as Captain America. Marvel has also kept many details surrounding the plot under wraps, leaving fans waiting for more information about the relationship between the two characters.

The return of Evans as Steve Rogers has nevertheless created considerable excitement among Marvel fans, particularly because his character had seemingly completed his journey in Avengers: Endgame.

Avengers: Doomsday is being directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who previously worked on several major MCU projects, including Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The upcoming movie is scheduled to arrive in theatres on December 18.

As the Marvel story moves forward, Mackie’s Captain America and Evans’ Steve Rogers could represent two different chapters of the same legacy. While Mackie has officially carried the shield into a new era, Evans’ return suggests that Steve Rogers may still have an important part to play in the MCU’s next major chapter.