Just as I'm wrapping up a story on Marvel's Phase 2 plans, a major piece of information has dropped that they for some reason didn't reveal over the weekend. And boy, it's a doozy that's going to make a lot of fans happy.
THR reports that Anthony Mackie will play Captain America's longtime partner, Falcon, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Born Sam Wilson, he was raised in Harlem by two loving parents, but after they were killed, he turned to a life of crime. Renaming himself "Snap" Wilson, he took off in a plane for a major score, but crashed on a place called Exile Island, which had been taken over by the Red Skull. Captured by the villain, Red Skull would use the Cosmic Cube to forge a mental link between Wilson and Redwing, a falcon he had an already strong bond with. Later on, Wilson would meet and befriend Captain America, and then have a flying harnass fashioned for him by the Black Panther. Falcon and Captain America are a virtually inseparable crime fighting duo, with the former looking at the latter as something of a mentor.
This is obviously a huge move for Mackie, and his best chance yet of becoming the star many of us think he should be. For one thing, you can be sure Falcon will have at least some role in The Avengers sequel, and considering his ties to many within the Marvel Universe, we may see him turn up in other movies as well. I think this all but confirms we'll see Hugo Weaving back as the Red Skull, but those hoping this also means a Black Panther appearance should hold their horses. You could just as easily have Tony Stark build some flying technology for Falcon to use, if the story ventures to go that route.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on April 4th 2014.
