Passing the shield. For Esquire’s new cover story on Anthony Mackie, Chris Evans told the mag that he broke the news to his Marvel co-star that Mackie was going to be the next Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Following on from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Brave New World shows that Mackie's Sam Wilson has accepted the moniker of Captain America. Like his predecessor Steve Rogers, Sam has a strained relationship with those in power.

This is no picnic for the actors involved, as fans can be protective of their favorite heroes and reluctant to embrace new players. Recently, Anthony Mackie spoke out about his — and, by extension, Sam Wilson’s — take on Captain America, which caused something of a fandom uproar. His comments, however, only prove that he understands his character.