Anthony Mackie was thrilled to meet Ian McKellen while filming Avengers: Doomsday. However, the veteran actor apparently had no idea that Mackie had become the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Captain America.
During an interview with IMDb at San Diego Comic-Con, Mackie recalled approaching McKellen after spotting him on the set of the upcoming Marvel crossover. McKellen is reprising his role as Magneto alongside several other actors from Fox’s X-Men films.
Magneto in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer – Marvel Entertainment, YouTube
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“I go to Ian McKellen. He goes, ‘Hello, son.’ I’m like, ‘Ian McKellen, sir. You’re amazing. It’s amazing to work with you,’” Mackie said. “He goes, ‘So what are you doing in the film?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m Captain America.’”
Anthony Mackie on meeting Ian McKellen for the first time while filming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
“I go to Ian McKellen, he goes, ‘Hello, son.’ I’m like, ‘Ian McKellen, sir. You’re amazing. It’s amazing to work with you’”
“He goes, ‘So what are you doing in the film?’ and I’m… pic.twitter.com/SUtQoXBpDZ
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) July 29, 2026
McKellen appeared pleased by the revelation, even if it was apparently news to him.
“Wonderful, and you deserve that,” McKellen responded.
McKellen Apparently Missed Sam Wilson’s Promotion
Mackie laughed while recounting the exchange and seemed delighted by McKellen’s reaction. However, for Marvel fans who have criticized Sam Wilson taking on the mantle of Captain America, Mackie not being recognized may seem like exactly what Marvel deserved.
When Sam Wilson was the Falcon, the character was widely embraced. Turning him into the new Captain America proved far more divisive, and many general audiences may not even remember that the change occurred.
Sam Wilson inherited Steve Rogers’ shield at the conclusion of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. He then formally embraced the Captain America identity in the 2021 Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) in Marvel Studios‘ THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
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More importantly, Mackie headlined his own theatrical movie as the character in 2025. Captain America: Brave New World was intended to firmly establish Sam Wilson as the MCU’s new star-spangled hero before he led the Avengers into their next major battle.
The film finished its disastrous theatrical run with approximately $200.5 million domestically and $415.1 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $180 million, before marketing expenses.
Those numbers were far below the previous two Captain America movies. The Winter Soldier earned approximately $714 million worldwide, while Civil War surpassed $1.15 billion.
Can Doomsday Establish Mackie’s Captain America?
While Ian McKellen may not closely follow every development in the sprawling MCU, his unfamiliarity suggests that Mackie’s elevation failed to become the major cultural event Marvel presumably wanted. The bigger question is whether audiences who lost interest in the MCU after Avengers: Endgame will experience similar momentary confusion.
For now, Anthony Mackie is playing the MCU’s Captain America.
Avengers Doomsday Art – X, @andyparkart
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“I’m kind of like the glue that brings everybody together and makes sure that we go out as a team and save the world, which is, you know, really dope,” he said of his role in Doomsday. “And it’s what Captain America is supposed to be.”
Avengers: Doomsday will therefore need to accomplish what Brave New World could not: convince audiences that Sam Wilson is not merely carrying Steve Rogers’ shield but has become Captain America in his own right. Placing Mackie at the center of a massive crossover may give the character greater visibility. However, with Chris Evans returning as Steve Rogers and numerous legacy heroes competing for attention, whether Marvel can finally make that transition resonate remains to be seen.
Are you surprised the Ian McKellan didn’t recognize Anthony Mackie as Captain America? Sound off and let us know!
