Anthony Mackie:

Falcon Takes Flight in Marvel’s Civil War

Arturo Hilario / El Observador

In Captain America: Civil War Sam Wilson (played by Anthony Mackie) takes up his responsibility of protecting the world and help out his best friend Steve Rodgers, aka Captain America. As the wing-bearing ex-military Falcon, he becomes part of the Civil War between the government and a faction of the Avengers who do not want to be governed by political forces that have been corrupted in the past. Falcon joins the side of Captain America, who among other Avengers, feel they have the right to defend humanity  at any point without permission from governments.

When you first saw Sam Wilson he was introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) and reprised the role in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Ant-Man (2015). At this point Sam Wilson has become a full fledged member of the Avengers, donning the Falcon moniker and a suit that gives him flight capabilities. Anthony Mackie explains just how his character sees the world in this Friday’s Captain America: Civil War.

Why does Sam/Falcon pick Captain America’s side?

Falcon is ex-Air Force. He then became a grief counselor at a Veteran’s Affairs clinic, with that he has a certain appreciation for government. But in Captain America: The Winter Soldier S.H.I.E.L.D (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division), which is a government agency, was infiltrated by Hydra so he ends up fighting the government he was loyal to. So the idea that he’s taking his own path, I don’t want the government to govern superheroes and decide when they can send us and where they can send us. We don’t know what hidden agendas they’re sending us for. So that’s why he’s fighting alongside Captain America.

How does this Civil War affect the Avengers team going forward? How do they unite after this?

Well that’s the question we’re going to have to answer. With the Civil War there’s a certain divide in the Avengers a divide that can only be broken if we come up with an ultimate evil to fight.

How was it like working alongside these new heroes that are introduced, among them Black Panther and Spiderman?

It was great, it’s always fun to be there when you introduce new heroes of the Marvel Universe. I was there three years ago. Everyone is waiting to see the new costumes, we all enjoy it.

Can you comment on Falcon’s new gear, the appearance of his comic book buddy Redwing (originally a wild falcon that can communicate with him) and the slick suit design?

Falcon’s an Avenger now so his suit has been fully “Starkarized”, Tony Stark takes it and adds his gadgets and technology to it. So you see how the technology is added to his suit with Red Wing and new and improved jet pack. So the suit’s great. More technologically savvy. We all felt like it would be kind of ridiculous to have me talking to a bird so they made him a drone which I was fully on board with. I thought that was the best way to show Falcon having a partner in crime. Marvel is very good at changing the story and developing it.

How was working with the Russo brothers on this film? Does it make it easier having two directors on a production of this scale? 

It makes it easier if it’s the Russos. I like working with them. It’s completely different because they work so well together. They’re so well versed on how to deal with actors and Joseph was an actor at the beginning of his career. Tony Russo is like a film savant, his knowledge of film and the way we are shooting is kind of remarkable so if you put them together it’s a kind of like the perfect stuff.

What can fans expect to see come May 6th once they’re transported to this very kinetic world of Marvel again? 

Super heroes (laughs). Nah, but the thing about Marvel is the story, I think fans can expect something great with Civil War.

Captain America: Civil War is in theaters May 6th, 2016.

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