Captain America: Brave New World star Anthony Mackie stated that he originally didn't know he was going to play Sam Wilson/Falcon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when he joined the franchise.
While speaking to Inverse, Mackie recalled the events that led to his casting as Sam Wilson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier after a meeting with directors Joe and Anthony Russo and co-producer Nate Moore. "I'll never forget, Joe Russo said, 'Listen, so we're doing this movie,'" Mackie explained. "'We want you to be in it. We can't say what character you're playing or who else is going to be in it. Would you do it?' And that was it. I was like, 'You know what, I like y'all dudes. I'll do it. I'll go on this ride with you.'" Mackie would learn that he was cast as The Falcon a few weeks later.
According to Marvel Studios President and CCO Kevin Feige, Mackie was cast as The Falcon without auditioning, saying in 2021 that the first experience with Mackie was "him being the unanimous first choice to play the character." Feige said, "I thought he would be great as this character. As we often do, when we're casting, you cast for the immediate role at hand -- which was Sam Wilson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but if it all goes well, that can grow and evolve into numerous things. You want an actor who can do it all, which of course, Anthony can."
Sam Wilson vs. Steve Rogers
Regarding his character's role as the new Captain America, Mackie discussed what made Sam stand out from other Avengers, commenting at the time that Sam was a superhero who wasn't really a superhero. "I just have wings on my suit that I got from the military," he said. "So everything that I do, I do as a common man. When you see me, you might think, 'Oh, I can be a superhero, too.' Whereas if you look at Hulk or any of those guys, you can't compete."
Plot details for Brave New World are currently under wraps. However, it is known that The Incredible Hulk star Tim Blake Nelson will return as Samuel Sterns/The Leader. Also, recently shared set footage gave fans a look at the Serpent Society in what appear to be new costumes, with Rosa Salazar cast as Diamondback.
Captain America: Brave New World opens in theaters on July 26, 2024.
Source: Inverse