Another day and another Hollywood star says something controversial. This time, Anthony Mackie, the star of “Captain America: Brave New World” was the actor who possibly stepped in it. During a promotion for the film in Rome, he told the audience that his character Sam Wilson (Captain America) ” represents a lot of different things, and I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations.”
During the event Mackie was asked a question about what Captain America represents to him, as a superhero. Mackie then told the audience,
Anthony Mackie explains what Captain America represents for him:
“Captain America represents a lot of different things & I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations. It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity.”
(Source:… pic.twitter.com/d5bvqIbreF
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 28, 2025
“For me Captain America represents a lot of different things and I don’t think the term, you know, “America” should be one of those representations. Like, it’s about a man who keeps his word. Who has honor, dignity, and integrity. Someone who is trustworthy and dependable. You know, it’s kind of like an aspect of a dream coming true..”
Then he goes on about himself as an actor.
‘All of us as actors, I believe, want to get back to that day before someone told you ‘no.’
When you look out your door and you see a five-year-old kid with a stick and he’s slaying dragons to save the princess in the tower, that kid really believes their dragon’s out there, that stick is really a sword and he’s really trying to save that princess.
And then one day, somebody told him ‘no.” There are no dragons! That’s not a sword! And that princess is not there!’ And all of his little dreams were dashed.
So, you know, as an actor I feel like our job is to get back to the day when we see that dragon and we slay that dragon and save that princess, and that’s kind of what this movie was for me.”
I don’t know, but I think saying that “America” isn’t one of the representations of a character meant to embody the American spirit is a good idea. That is literally the whole point of the character. He is the best of “America.”
How he worded this seems to imply that he isn’t “America” because he has honor, dignity, integrity, dependability, and trustworthiness.
When your film is already tracking low, you might not have wanted to say something to offend your core audience!
As an actor, you are portraying a character. You are not that character. It is not your brand. You are the face of that brand. It seems that actors sometimes inflate their own importance and conflate their opinions as the opinions of the brand, character, or audience.
He might have been trying to promote the idea that the character can represent all people, not just America, but this idea fell flat.
People are not happy about it.
Here are some of the responses on X.
“Well that’s sure to sit well with your American audience.”
“Well, his name is Captain America. He represents American values. Get used to it.”
“Strange take. Captain America literally has America in the name and represents American values of freedom, justice, and standing up for what’s right. Why try to separate that? The character’s whole origin is tied to WW2 America.”
“Why is his name Captain America and why does his suit and shield look like the American flag then?”
“He literally represents the best of what America can be. How do you not just answer it that way?…”
“Okay, if you don’t think it’s a representation then you shouldn’t be playing Captain America….”
“Can’t believe I’m siding with chuds on this one, but this is pretty stupid from him. Captain America represents the IDEAL of what America CAN be. The principles the founders set out in the constitution and CAP is someone who’s always striving for that.”
Not helping the box office.
“Captain America: Brave New World” is already tracking relatively low for a Marvel opener. It’s lagging behind the 2023 flop “Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania” and at about the same pace as “The Eternals,” which also underperformed, but that one got a pass because of Covid.
I do not think this is going to help the box office grow, especially now that all the mainstream media outlets are covering his comments, too.
What do you think? Was Mackie correct to say this? Will it hurt the box office for his film?
Comment and let us know!
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