Anthony Mackie and Tom Holland often take subtle digs at each other every chance they get. Their playful feud began in 2018 when the Spider-Man star jokingly mocked Mackie for not having a solo Falcon movie after the latter admitted he hadn’t watched Jon Watts’ 2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming yet. Several years later, the two have kept their friendly rivalry alive, with Mackie recently claiming that his upcoming Captain America: Brave New World is better than any of Holland’s films.
In a talk on The Official Marvel Podcast, Mackie took a shot at Holland while discussing the return of Sam Wilson on the big screen. And though he still didn’t have a solo Falcon film, he’s now Captain America and about to continue what Steve Rogers has started in Captain America: Brave New World.
“Well, he's Cap. Finally,” he said. “Now we see him running missions on his own and trying to figure out where he fits into the whole world. This is way better than any of Tom Holland's movies. And I have Harrison Ford!”
But though he took a gentle jab at Holland, Mackie had nothing but good words for his Falcon and the Winter Soldier co-star Danny Ramirez, who would return as Joaquin Torrez in Captain America 4. Playing the new Falcon, Mackie praised Ramirez for bringing a new level of energy to the MCU with how he portrayed his character.
“The stuff that he's doing with his character and what he brings,” he continued. “The flavor, the beauty, the joy he brings to that character. I feel like it brings a whole new energy to the Marvel Universe.”
Ramirez, alternatively, expressed his excitement in taking on the mantle of Falcon and finally wearing those wings. But in addition to the hype, it was a pivotal moment for him to feel what it was like for Mackie to put those wings on.
“It's a beautiful generational baton passing… To put that on and to feel how I felt. To have to do some stuff and feel, 'Oh, this is the movie we're making,'” he continued. “I was finally able to see what it was like for Anthony to put on the suit.”
Will Anthony Mackie and Tom Holland work together in the MCU?
Mackie and Holland were part of the Russo Brothers’ 2016 Captain America: Civil War, 2018 Avengers: Infinity War, and 2019 Avengers: Endgame. However, they have not shared the screen since then. With the MCU now in Phase 5 and two upcoming Avengers films, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, it’s highly likely that the frenemies will work together again.
But with the way Watts’ 2021 Spider-Man: No Way Home ended, with Peter Parker asking Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to wipe out everyone’s memory of him through a spell, the new Captain America may have no idea who Spider-Man is. Hence, Marvel Studios can add meta-comment to address their funny rivalry, and it will be a thrilling moment in their reunion.
With the new Avengers coming, Sam Wilson may be the leader of the group. Though it remains to be seen what is in store for Holland’s Peter in the planned Spider-Man 4, there’s a strong possibility that he will also be part of the upcoming Avengers films.
Captain America: Brave New World is set to open in theaters on February 14, 2025, while Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are scheduled for May 1, 2026, and May 7, 2027, respectively.
