Marvel is not resting on its laurels after its victory lap at Comic-Con, moving ahead on casting its latest movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Anthony Mackie is in negotiations to star alongside Chris Evans the sequel to Captain America: First Avenger, which is being directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.
April 4, 2014 is the release date for the film.
Plot details are being kept underwraps but the subtitle reflects a respected storyline from the 2000s that returned Captain America's sidekick Bucky from the comics death as a brain-washed super assassin known as the Winter Solider.
While Marvel would not comment nor divulge charater details, it is believed that Mackie will end up portraying the Falcon, who is one of mainstream's comics' first black superheroes, and perhaps its first American-based one. The character, Sam Wilson, was Harlem-based and had many street adventures with Cap in the 1970s comics when he served as his partner. He derives his powers from a suit which allows him to fly and enhances his strength. He can also telepathically talk to birds. In current comics, he is a key player in many of Cap's espionage adventures.
Mackie is currently on screen with Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. He has Warner Bros' all-star crime movie Gangster Squad coming out this fall, recently completed shooting Michael Bay's Pain and Gain, and is now shooting Runner, Runner with Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlaks.
He is repped by UTA and Inspider Entertainment.
Marvel had no comment.