Anthony Mackie’s portrayal of Marvel Comics’ classic ass-beating avian Avenger, Sam Wilson, aka, The Falcon was one of the standout characters from last year’s epic sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. While his return in next year’s Captain America: Civil War has been confirmed, however, there are still questions about whether the subject of Cap’s new bromance will show up in this summer’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron. According to Mackie himself, the key word is "hope."
In an interview with I Am Rogue, Mackie discussed Falcon’s long-term place in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, and while he confirmed that he has not yet filmed anything for The Avengers: Age of Ultron, it's something that he's still very, very interested in (despite the fact that the movie is just a little over three months away). Asked if he was going to be in the Joss Whedon blockbuster, Mackie told the reporter,
"I hope. At this point, I have not. I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope. They're doing reshoots and that's why I'm letting them know I'm available. So whatever weekend they want me there, I'll fly myself out and shoot whatever scene they want me in. Even if it's like, 'Oh man, it's Iron Man and Hulk.' But I heard today in one of the interviews that someone thought I was in Ant-Man. I hope so! I hope I'm in Ant-Man. I hope I'm in Hulk 3, I hope I'm in Thor 3, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Me and Groot can boogie!"
Clearly not picky about where Falcon winds up in the MCU, Anthony Mackie’s unbridled enthusiasm is absolutely infectious and probably music to the ears of fans. Falcon, introduced in the pages of the Captain America comic in 1969, is often cited as being the first prominent African-American superhero (with Black Panther being African), and his involvement in the pages of Marvel Team-Up with Cap throughout the majority of the 1970s was one of comics’ most indelible friendships.
Of course, further diving into the Marvel Cinematic Universe could result in some big changes for Falcon in the future, but Anthony Mackie is totally on-board for that too - especially if it includes more character material from the comics. On the pages of Marvel, Falcon not only has a showy crimson costume, but also a feathery friend in the form of a trained falcon sidekick, named Redwing. This is a fact that has not gone unnoticed by Mackie, and he has even gone so far as to lay the gauntlet down on that subject.
"I want my bird, man. I want my bird! The thing is, you know I've been emailing with people over at Marvel. Im putting it out there in the ethos that I'm going to have a new and improved costume and come out all flashy in spandex."
Avengers: Age of Ultron, which may or may not feature Falcon, will be hitting theaters on May 1st. However, Falcon will most definitely be back in Captain America: Civil War, which bows on May 6, 2016.
