Anthony Mackie has a lot of very exciting projects on the way, including the upcoming Twisted Metal TV series. However, it was in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier we got to see the actor take on his biggest role yet when Sam Wilson become the MCU's new Captain America.
He'll return as the hero in 2024's Captain America: New World Order, but it turns out there's another dream role that Mackie is hoping eventually lands in his lap. Talking to Men's Journal (via SFFGazette.com), Mackie explained why he wants to be the one to bring Panthro to life in an eventual ThunderCats movie.
Asked which superhero he'd like to play if not Sam Wilson, the actor responded, "Definitely Hulk. Since I was a kid, I'd always wanted to be The Incredible Hulk."
"But now, if I could play another superhero, it would be Panthro from ThunderCats - the blue dude. Yeah, I'm big on ThunderCats - that's my one superhero," Mackie added. "If they ever make that movie and I'm not him, I’m shutting that shit down."
The ThunderCats animated TV series premiered in 1985 and followed the title heroes as they battled the evil forces of Mumm-Ra on Third Earth following the destruction of their home, Thundera. Running for 130 episodes over four seasons, it's gained a cult following and has since lived on as both a comic book and a couple of short-lived TV shows.
As for Panthro, the warrior is the chief mechanic/engineer and pilot for the ThunderCats.
There continue to be rumblings about a live-action movie, though it hasn't materialised yet. Mackie is clearly keen to be part of that, though, so here's hoping whichever is the latest studio to take a crack at the franchise keeps him in mind. He clearly won't be happy if someone else gets that Panthro role, but Captain America promises to keep the actor busy for quite some time.
Captain America: New World Order arrives in theaters on May 3, 2024.