Anthony Mackie may take flight as the Falcon

Marvel just unveiled a number of sequel titles at Comic-Con, including 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and now it's been revealed that actor Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, The Adjustment Bureau) might join the cast as the Falcon.

Debuting in a 1969 issue of Captain America, the Falcon has the distinction of being the first African-American superhero. The Black Panther appeared a few years earlier, but is a member of African royalty. Although Mackie has expressed interest in playing the latter character, it looks like the Falcon will soar before the Black Panther springs into action.

Part of Marvel's recent success can be attributed to consistently excellent casting, and Mackie, one of his generation's best and most underrated actors, would definitely uphold this trend.

Of course, the biggest challenge to introducing the Falcon will be making his costume seem, well, less 1969. But, hey, since they managed to get rid of Hawkeye's purple tights for Hurt Locker co-star Jeremy Renner in The Avengers, somehow we're guessing Marvel will make it work.

Check out Mackie in a different kind of uniform in this tense Hurt Locker scene, which also features Renner.