Captain America: New World Order is currently before cameras, with the movie set to be the MCU’s tentpole summer release for 2024. After The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie is now firmly installed as the successor to Chris Evans, with the fourth star-spangled standalone blockbuster putting him directly in the spotlight.
All that said, it’s going to be a very busy spotlight. Mackie’s Sam Wilson will be fighting for screentime with Harrison Ford as General Ross, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross, Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader, and Shira Haas making her MCU debut as Sabra. These days, fans are used to many returning characters, but some have uncharitably come to the conclusion that this may mean Marvel Studios doesn’t have full confidence in the leading man, as argued in a lengthy Reddit post.
“They’re padding this movie out with a bunch of big Actors like Harrison Ford and Liv Tyler and trying a deep cut with fans using the Leader because they don’t think Mackie can sell a Captain America movie.”
We’ll grant that it is a little peculiar that New World Order is going to feature multiple MCU characters who’ve been M.I.A. since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, with some concluding this is going to be a stealth sequel in all but name. As for the theory that Marvel Studios doesn’t think Mackie has necessary the star power?
It’s worth remembering that the outfit has traditionally avoided leaning on specific actors to sell their movies. Robert Downey Jr’s stardom was arguably a big part of Iron Man‘s success, but prior to playing Tony Stark, even his fame had waned after a decade of bad press. Since then, MCU movies have been promoted on the strength of the brand rather than the talent involved, which lets the studio prevent any one name from making too many demands.
The top reply points out that Captain America: Civil War was even more jam-packed with other heroes, and nobody suggested that the reason was that Marvel lacked confidence in Chris Evans. We agree. After all, if Kevin Feige didn’t have belief in Mackie, he would have just made sure that Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes picked up the shield instead.
Captain America: New World Order will hit theaters on May 3, 2024.