# Ian McKellen Tells Anthony Mackie He Deserves to Be New Captain America

Ian McKellen discovered on the set of "Avengers: Doomsday" that Anthony Mackie is taking over as Captain America and personally told Mackie, "You deserve that." The moment highlights a passing of the superhero mantle and McKellen's support for the new star, resonating with Marvel fans and industry observers.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Entertainment
- [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/ian-mckellen-anthony-mackie-avengers-doomsday-1236823853/) — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 22:35:13 +0000