Anthony Mackie Responds to Rumor That He's Taking Over as Captain America

During a recent interview with James Corden, Anthony Mackie shared why he couldn’t be Captain America. Keep scrolling for the Marvel-filled evidence.

By Mona Thomas Jan 20, 2021 1:28 PMTags
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Anthony Mackie answers the question that everyone is asking. 

During an interview with The Late Late Show with James Corden on Tuesday, Jan. 19, the Avengers: Endgame star addressed the growing rumors claiming he's set to become the next Captain America.

"You need to know about this," began host James Corden. "Everybody online is saying you're the new Captain America and I think you are. I think it's you."

At first, Mackie stared blankly into the screen before laughing and explaining, "The thing is, if you watch [Avengers] End Game, at the end of the movie Sam Wilson never accepts the shield. He actually tells Cap that the shield is for him and it doesn't feel right on his arm."

The 8 Mile actor continued, "If you look at, like, you know—Marvel is great at building characters over the course of many films. and from Winter Soldier to now, my whole goal in the Marvel Universe was to help Cap, was to be Cap's friend. So, at no point in time in End Game did Sam Wilson accept the shield at all. As a matter of fact, it made him happy to come back from time and stand once again at Cap's side."

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A likely story, Mackie, but Corden also shared his theory of that very important scene being "where the series kicks off," and promptly added, "This is based on nothing, I should say." 

Corden continued, "I think—this is my own theory—it kicks off with you being like, ‘Oh, I can't do it, I can't do it,' and by the end of episode one, bang! He's got the shield and we're off to the races."

And while this is also a plausible theory, the actor made a strong point about their "not one paparazzi" having a photo of him in the Captain America costume.

Corden also had an answer for this, "It's the last scene of the season, and that's why they haven't got it because the last thing is you put the thing on, the suit on, and you're inside, interior, and you go, ‘I'm ready. I'll do it.'"

Who doesn't love a "based on nothing" theory?