Anthony Mackie Discusses Playing ‘The Falcon’ In ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’

If somehow you haven’t heard by now actor Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) will be playing Sam Wilson aka The Falcon in the highly anticipated sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger. I don’t think it was ever officially confirmed prior to now but this was definitely the role he was speculated to be playing. The actor recently spoke with News Day and revealed that it’s a “huge honor” for him to be portraying the first African-American superhero in mainstream comics as well as playing a character in which his son, nephews and nieces could all idolize.

I’m playing the Falcon. He’s this guy in Harlem who moved to California and became a drug dealer. His plane crashed, and he was genetically altered, and he can fly, has telepathic powers. He’s the first African-American superhero. It makes me feel all the work I’ve done has been paying off. I have a son, nephews and nieces, and I love the idea that they can dress up as the Falcon on Halloween. They now have someone they can idolize. That’s a huge honor for me.

You can actually check out Mackie’s latest movie, 10 years, in theaters this weekend.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier hits theaters April 4th, 2014