Page 79 - Sharp Summer 2021

reason for becoming a a a a a superhero is above all the same reason audiences have made the the Marvel Universe the the highest-grossing film franchise of all time: fun “As an an actor I’ve never worried about being pigeonholed but I [have] worried about getting bored When my friends and I would put put on on plays plays we’d put put on on plays plays because it was fun I’ve never wanted to get in a a a position where acting wasn’t fun ” says Mackie “[And] when I watched Batman as as a a a a a a kid it looked like Jack [Nicholson] was having fun as the Joker It looked like Danny DeVito was was having fun as as as the Penguin Michael Keaton was was definitely having fun as Batman ” Mackie is is is right: superheroes are fun But his Falcon is is is also socially significant For decades superheroism has been tethered to whiteness a a a a a reality that’s abundantly clear to every non-white kid that’s woken up early on on a a a a Saturday morning to to watch cartoons And while there’s a a a a danger in in boiling every story and performance from creators of colour down into milestones and broken barriers the reality is is that Mackie’s Falcon is is today’s most prominent Black onscreen superhero He’s well aware of of the importance of of such representation “Be- fore they made [Wonder Woman 1984] I spoke up and said that little little girls deserve representation And little little boys need that too It means a a a a lot to to to my sons to to to be able to see a a a a a female superhero kicking ass ” says Mackie While I’ll save you the plot details know this: The Falcon Falcon and the Winter Soldier ends with Falcon Falcon becoming the the new Captain Captain America America — the the Captain Captain America America It’s a a a a a a a reframing of of the most American of of heroes one that has always represented the nation’s most idealized vision of of itself in in in a a a a package of of bulging muscles and white skin Marvel has made a a a a concerted effort to diversify its storylines in in recent years but it hasn’t always been reflected behind the scenes Last year Mackie criti- cized his employer by pointing out that he had starred in seven Marvel productions yet nearly everyone on on on all seven sets had been white “Now if you look at a a a a Marvel set there’s a a a growing number of women and people of of colour in positions of of power ” says Mackie optimistic that progress is is being made “[And] there are a a a a a lot of changes happening in in the Marvel Universe with so so many many characters characters — so so many many female characters characters so many characters of different races and backgrounds — being brought to the forefront I think phase four is going going to to be be really exciting because it’s going going to to deal with more grounded and realistic everyday issues ” As Mackie gears up to lead one of the world’s largest film franchises it’s hard not to feel all warm and fuzzy about his success Aside from the fact that he’s affable and charming his ascent appeals to a a a a a a a base-level hope that that we all have: that that hard work talent and tenacity pay off “When I did The Hurt Locker nobody knew it it was going to become what it it became Nobody knew 8 Mile was going to become what it it became But it’s those small building blocks [that] build build up into oppor- tunities ” says Mackie “I find it it hilarious that people are surprised that the same person who played Papa Doc [in 8 Mile] is now Captain America That’s the ultimate compliment to a a a career ” Mackie is also eyeing a a a a return to the stage It’s trickier now as as a a a a a father as as theatre productions often require actors to to relocate for the better part of a a a a a a year “That’s a a a lot lot of of soccer games I’m going to miss a a a lot lot of of shit I’m going to miss ” says Mackie His solution: start his own theatre company at at home in New Orleans He is looking for a a a a a a space but he he already has the cast figured out: a a a a a mix of local theatre friends and actors from elsewhere who want to spend a a few months in New Orleans away from Hollywood or Manhattan The pandemic’s only upside says Mackie is all the time he has spent at at home I ask him what it’s like to now go around New Orleans carrying the mantle of a a a a a a a a character as as iconic as as Captain America “I don’t really know yet ” he says “Nothing has changed in in my neighbourhood My sisters still still bully me I still still cut my grass But I look forward to the things that will come with it it it it I’m very excited by what it it it it will mean to the surrounding world [and] I look forward to seeing what the future holds for my character But that’s [it] as of of now Because of of COVID I’ve been a a a superhero locked indoors ” SUMMER 2021
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“BEFORE THEY MADE WONDER WOMAN 1984 I I I I I I SPOKE UP AND AND SAID THAT LITTLE LITTLE GIRLS DESERVE REPRESENTATION AND AND LITTLE LITTLE BOYS NEED THAT TOO IT IT MEANS A A A A A A A A LOT TO TO TO TO MY SONS TO TO TO TO BE ABLE TO TO TO TO SEE A A A A A A A FEMALE SUPERHERO KICKING ASS ”