This is no picnic for the actors involved, as fans can be protective of their favorite heroes and reluctant to embrace new players. Recently, Anthony Mackie spoke out about his — and, by extension, Sam Wilson’s — take on Captain America, which caused something of a fandom uproar. His comments, however, only prove that he understands his character.

Anthony Mackie took to Instagram Tuesday to clarify his viral comment about what Captain America represents. "Let me be clear about this, I'm a proud American and taking on the shield of a hero like [Captain America] is the honor of a lifetime,