*Anthony Mackie has irked Black Twitter for the second time this week.
Three days after saying he was “drinking the Kool-Aid” for Donald Trump (which he has since described as a bad joke), the actor is weighing in on the director search regarding “Black Panther.”
Marvel Studios is filming a live action version of its first black superhero to hit mainstream comics in 1966. Chadwick Boseman will star in the film, due in 2018. A director, however, has yet to be chosen.
And according to Mackie, the director’s racial background should not be a factor in Marvel’s decision.
“I don’t think it’s important at all,” Mackie said in an interview with the Daily Beast. “As a director your job is to tell a story. You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit!”
He continued, “The thing is I don’t think the race of the director has to do with their ability to tell a story. I think it’s all about the director’s ability to be able to relate to that story and do it justice. I think men can direct women, and two of my greatest work experiences were with female directors. So I think it all depends. May the best man — or woman — win.”
So far, the studio took a meeting with at least one high-profile African-American filmmaker, Ava DuVernay. The “Selma” helmer circled the project but ultimately passed, saying she and Marvel “had different ideas about what the story would be,” according to EW.com.
Meanwhile, Mackie, who plays one of Marvel’s most visible big-screen black heroes in the Falcon, has again caused a backlash on Twitter over his opinion:
omg. Guys. I figured it out. Anthony Mackie was secretly cast to play Ben Carson in a movie and 2015 has been him getting into character
— Darth Kriss (@insanityreport) October 23, 2015
Why are people talking to Anthony Mackie? pic.twitter.com/8dE2ZKrN9x
— Cici (@CanterburyCici) October 23, 2015
Make Anthony Mackie stop talking ?
— Ron Swanson (@itzjustlife) October 23, 2015
@AnthonyMackie you wayyy too fine for this foolishness. Get it together.
— Jackie Stones (@sillyauntie) October 23, 2015
@blackvoices @AnthonyMackie What’s up with the nonsense lately be quite! We finally get a black live action superhero in MCU & here we go ?
— Jerrell L. Val Zod (@JerrellZod) October 23, 2015
Anthony Mackie continues to break my heart ?
— Akiresatmidnight (@AkiresHenri) October 23, 2015
Anthony Mackie gone mess around and get fired on his day off. He’s not regal enough to be The Falcon anyway.
— Black Guy Emeritus (@ReverendDrDash) October 23, 2015
Can we do a Drop Squad sequel with Anthony Mackie playing Eriq La Salle’s role as the person in need of reprogramming? #STHU
— William Rodgers Jr (@WillRodgersJr) October 23, 2015
I may not agree with everything @AnthonyMackie says, but I will be infuriated if he apologies for any of it. Opinions are a human right.
— Blairwolf Hoyloween (@Blair_Hoyle) October 23, 2015
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