Actor Anthony Mackie stated that his role as Captain America has nothing to do with American values.
The star who plays the eponymous character in the movie “Captain America: Brave New World” caused a stir Jan. 28 by dismissing the character’s connection to the U.S. and trying to redefine the role to what he personally perceives. Speaking at a press event held at the Hotel de la Ville in Rome, Italy, Mackie told the audience that Captain America “represents a lot of different things,” then went on to say, “I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations.”
Anthony Mackie explains what Captain America represents for him:
“Captain America represents a lot of different things & I don’t think the term ‘America’ should be one of those representations. It’s about a man who keeps his word, who has honor, dignity and integrity.”
(Source:… pic.twitter.com/d5bvqIbreF
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 28, 2025
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 20: Anthony Mackie attends the UK Film Premiere of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” at Westfield London on March 20, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) Getty Images
Mackie stripped away all foundational connections the character had to America.
“It’s about a man who keeps his words, who has honor and dignity and integrity,” he said.
“Someone who is trustworthy and dependable.”
Well that’s sure to sit well with your American audience
— Walter Strongkite (@Headlines_Fix) January 28, 2025
The famous actor criticized the character by saying Captain America didn’t embody the ideals of America at all, then went on to state his perception of what the character really defines.
“It’s kind of – this is kind of like an aspect of a dream coming true,” Mackie told the audience.
“You know when I was a kid, all of us as actors, I believe, want to get back to that day before someone told you ‘no.’ When you look out your door and you see a five-year old kid with a stick and he’s slaying dragons, to save the princess in the tower, that kid really believes there’s dragons out there, that stick is really a sword, and he’s trying to save that princess.”
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 2: In this handout photo provided by Disneyland Resort, Anthony Mackie attends the Avengers Campus opening ceremony at Disney California Adventure Park on June 2, 2021 in Anaheim, California. The Avengers Campus opens to the public at the Disneyland Resort on June 4, 2021. (Photo by Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort via Getty Images)
“And then one day, somebody told him ‘no – there’s no dragons, that’s not a sword, and that princess is not up there,’ and all his little dreams were dashed,” he continued.
“So, you know, as an actor I feel like our job is to get back to the day where we see that dragon and we slay that dragon to save that princess, and that’s kind of what that movie was,” he explained.
Okay, if you don’t think it’s a representation then you shouldn’t be playing Captain America. Get the fuck out of here
— The Human Rebuild 🤝🏾 (@thehumanrebuild) January 28, 2025
By all accounts, Mackie’s interpretation opposed the broader perspective that Captain America is a symbol of the American Dream. (RELATED: ‘Sets A Pretty High Bar’: Chris Evans Says He Aspires To Behave Like Captain America)
The actor is facing backlash online, as outraged Americans express their dismay and distaste for a star who seemingly turned his back on the very country that his character was designed to represent, the country the character was named after.
