The Falcon and The Winter Soldier followed Sam Wilson's transformation from sidekick to the MCU's new Captain America, and if what we saw in the finale is any indication, the hero most definitely deserves the mantle. Actor Anthony Mackie has knocked it out of the park so far, but will he be able to top what Chris Evans did while wielding the shield?
During an interview with Men's Journal, Mackie was asked outright if he believes his Captain America will be better, to which he shared a very interesting response.
"Mine will be different," the actor replied. "What you have to realize about Sam - he’s a superhero who is not really a superhero. There’s no secret serum. There’s no this or that. I just have wings on my suit that I got from the military. 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,'" Mackie continues. "Whereas if you look at Hulk or any of those guys, you can’t compete."
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The site also asked how the Captain America: New World Order star is preparing to play the Star Spangled Avenger, and it sounds like it requires a big commitment. "The most important thing is diet. I go to a lean protein and veggie diet of fish, chicken, and turkey with assorted vegetables. I don’t really need carbs for energy."
"I have high energy already. So I just kick out all the bad stuff. I’ll do that for three months - eating five to six meals a day so I can get some bulk on my frame. Then I’ll carb-load for about a month."
"For me, it’s impossible to burn fat and build muscle at the same time. One of them has to be sacrificed, so I try to put the muscle on my frame first, because I have the muscle memory," Mackie added. "After that, I strip all the water and fat out of my system by doing lightweight, cardio-heavy workouts in the morning then cardio again in the evenings."
Mackie has always been in superhero shape, but being Captain America requires him to take that to another level. It certainly sounds like he's prepared, though, and he'll need to be if the rumours about The Leader sending Hulks after Cap prove to be correct!
Captain America: New World Order arrives in theaters on May 3, 2024.