After the original line-up of superheores went their separate ways at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Scarlet Witch, Vision, War Machine, and Falcon filled in the team’s open spots, assembling together for the first time during the film’s final scene. It was a shock to Anthony Mackie.
Speaking from the set of Captain America: Civil War, Anthony Mackie explained that he had no idea his character was going to ascend to full Avengers status. He told us:
They never send you the whole script, you know? When they asked me to do Avengers, they sent me two scenes. There was 2 hours and 7 minutes around those two scenes, but I never got to read it. So, you know, when we were at the premiere, I was like, ‘Oh cool.’ I’m with my son. ‘You get to see daddy in these two scenes in The Avengers.’ Then, by the end of the movie, I turn around and they’re like, ‘Avengers assembled.’ I’m like, ‘Holy shit! I’m an Avenger!’ And I was like, ‘Wha….’ So, I turned around to everybody with me and they’re like, ‘Dude, you’re a fucking Avenger!’ This is fucking amazing. So, that was, that’s the story of my Marvel life.
Anthony Mackie went on to describe filming that scene with Chris Evans as Captain America and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow where he had no idea as to its greater implications.
I flew in, you know, every time, Chris and Scarlett are up top and the rest of us are standing there. So, it was like, ‘Cut, Anthony fly in.’ I fly in. ‘Action,’ hmm, hmm, hmm. ‘Cut, fly in. Alright, thanks.’ That was pretty much it. So, you know, six months later you go to a premiere and you shit yourself, you know, because everybody was like, ‘Why are you so excited?’ 'I just found out I’m an Avenger.'
Sadly, Falcon’s stint as an Avenger seems like it’ll be short-lived. Captain America: Civil War picks up about a year after the new team has been Avenging, but yet another international incident will prompt the governments of the world to pass harsher restrictions on superhuman activity through the Sokovia Accords. While Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is all for the action, Cap isn’t on board. As the remaining superheroes pick a side amid this growing conflict, The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) reemerges. Now Cap also has to save his friend from the government, and may not be able to take him alive after years of being Hydra’s brainwashed lapdog.
Also returning are Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Emily VanCamp (Agent 13), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Paul Bettany (Vision), and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow). Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Captain America: Civil War hits theaters on May 6.
Check out more coverage from the film’s set, including intel on the villain, Scarlet Witch, and the rest of Team Cap.
