MarvelCaptain America is getting an assist from an old ally in his follow-up film, as the former WWII hero continues to ease his way into the present day as a member of the Avengers juggernaut.
So who is Mr. Red, White and Blue's new superhero helper?
It's Falcon, Marvel's first mainstream African-American superhero, who will be joining Cappy for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
A source confirms to E! News that rising star Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, The Adjustment Bureau) is in talks to suit up as Falcon, joining Chris Evans as he reprises his role as our titular hero.
Mackie made his film debut as "Papa Doc" opposite Eminem in 2002's 8 Mile. Other feature credits include Million Dollar Baby, Half Nelson and most recently Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
So how does Falcon factor into the First Avenger's latest adventure?
While Marvel is remaining mum on the plot, the subtitle hints at what may lie ahead for Steve Rogers/Captain America in present-day U.S. of A. as Winter Soldier was born out of a mid-2000s storyline.
The name is the alias of Bucky Barnes, Cappy's teenage sidekick from his World War II days who seemingly was killed in action only to be resurrected by the Soviets. Suffering from amnesia, he's turned into a bionic assassin, the aforementioned Winter Soldier.
As for Falcon, this legendary crime fighter, aka Sam Wilson, was created by Stan Lee and first appeared in Captain America comics in 1969. A former Harlem resident who cares for a wild falcon called Red Wing, Wilson's superhero powers evolved out of a fusion of both bird and man that allowed Wilson not only to fly, but through a telepathic link enabled him to have broad powers over all birds of prey. Together, the Falcon and Captain America fought a slew of bad guys in the '70s adventures before he eventually went on to become an Avenger.
If all goes well, lensing on Captain America: Winter Soldier, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, will get underway sometime next year and hit theaters April 4, 2014.