Marvel Studios is taking a major step with its Phase Four slate by expanding its cinematic universe into television. At present, WandaVision has offered viewers a taste of some of the intricate production values the studio is still capable of providing on the small screen. But the upcoming The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will truly give viewers a cinematic experience on TV. The first official trailer for the show was more than enough to get fans excited but, as it turns out, Anthony Mackie was initially hesitant about the idea of doing a TV series.
Anthony Mackie seems to be enjoying his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and has trusted the studio when it comes to its creative choices. However, when he was first approached about The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he was skeptical about Marvel Studios’ ability to replicate its cinematic quality on television:
Right after we wrapped Endgame, after the big premiere party, splish splash, I have a meeting with everybody, and they’re like ‘We’re going streaming, and you’re gonna be in a streaming show.’ And I was like...really? Because you think there’s no way Marvel would be able to keep the level of sophistication, quality. There’s no way you would be able to do the exact same thing on a television. So basically, I thought this show was gonna be like the old school Batman, I thought it was gonna be some shitty… or some of the other shows where it’s like soap operas. The quality of our show with the acting, with the scripts, with the development of the characters and everything was so high-level, so high-brow. I didn’t think there was any way Marvel would be able to carry that on to television.
Anthony Mackie’s recent comments on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast are completely understandable. Marvel Studios’ films are large-scale productions that rely heavily on major set pieces and extensive CGI. Those tools are expensive and can be hard to attain fors TV shows. Luckily, it would appear that Disney has spared no expense when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s TV installments.
This isn’t the first time Anthony Mackie has hyped up the scope of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The actor previously explained that the film was shot like a movie, which made for an interesting production experience for both the cast and crew. During Disney’s Investor Day presentation, Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige also made note of the fact that the show is essentially a six-hour movie. Still, during his most recent interview, Mackie went on to say that the project still handles storylines as a television show would.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame and will see Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes embark on a worldwide adventure that puts their skills to the test. In addition, the show will also highlight the legacy of Captain America and will likely answer a major question fans have had -- who will will wield the shield after Steve Rogers?
There’s plenty to be excited about when it comes to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and its scale is definitely something to make note of. In a time where most movie theaters are still inaccessible, fans will likely be thrilled to have a big-screen quality production they can enjoy in the comfort of their homes.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier hits Disney+ on March 19 and will be followed by other shows like Loki and Hawkeye, which will also air this year.
