Anthony Mackie may play Falcon in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’

Anthony Mackie is in talks to play Falcon and his alter ego Sam Wilson in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mackie would play one of comic book’s first African-American superheroes. He would star alongside Chris Evans in the sequel to the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger.

Sebastian Stan, who played Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes in the first film, is presumed to reprise the role in the sequel, according to Complex.

Joe and Anthony Russo, who have previously directed episodes of the television show Arrested Development, will direct the film.

According to Marvel, Sam Wilson originates from a tough Harlem neighborhood and turns to crime after both his parents are murdered in separate incidents. Wilson eventually gets the ability to communicate with birds and becomes a crime fighter and an ally to Captain America.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be released April 4, 2014.

Mackie’s breakthrough came as Sergeant TJ Sanborn in the 2008 Academy Award-winning film The Hurt Locker. His first film was 2002's 8 Mile, in which he played Eminem's rival MC Papa Doc.

He recently had prominent parts in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Reel Steel and The Adjustment Bureau, and he is cast in this fall's Gangster Squad, which will star Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.