Falcon Actor Anthony Mackie Originally Auditioned For The Mandarin In ‘Iron Man 3’

During an interview with Men’s Health, Anthony Mackie revealed he originally auditioned for the role of The Mandarin in Iron Man 3 before being cast as Falcon.

Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame concluded with Steve Rogers passing the Captain America mantle to Anthony Mackie’s Falcon, though Marvel Cinematic Universe history might have played out differently had the actor landed the role of the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. However, Captain America: The Winter Soldier co-director Joe Russo discussed how Anthony Mackie’s audition for the role of The Mandarin in Iron Man 3 ultimately led to a meeting between himself, producer Nate Moore, and Mackie to discuss the possibility of playing Falcon:

“He has charisma, but he also has the ability to convey integrity in a way that very few actors can. And there’s a level of trust between him and the audience.”

While the Iron Man 3 role of The Mandarin went to Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley, Anthony Mackie commented on how the Falcon was a character he grew up loving:

“Growing up, I’d always loved Falcon, because he was a comic-book hero who was black who didn’t have ‘Black’ in the title. He stood on his morals. He stood on who he was.”

How do you think Anthony Mackie would have fared as The Mandarin in Iron Man 3? Was Ben Kingsley a better choice to play The Mandarin in Iron Man 3?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Anthony Mackie will reprise his role as Sam Wilson in the Disney+ series Falcon & Winter Soldier. The character was last seen opposite Iron Man and many more heroes in Avengers: Endgame.

The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, “Avengers: Endgame.”

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers:Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo,  Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillan, Danai Gurira, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin.

Avengers: Endgame will be available on Digital HD starting July 30, followed by a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on August 13.

Source: Men’s Health