10 Reasons Why Legacy Characters Are The Future Of The MCU

3. A Chance To Make A Statement

Marvel have a chance to make some very progressive moves coming up, and a chance to contribute to pop culture's ability to influence societal change. They've already missed the boat twice by a) waiting ten years before releasing a film centred around a female superhero (and it's not even Black Widow! Who's been appearing in films since 2010!) and b) foregoing the Miles Morales route for their Spider-Man redo. If Chris Evans truly does hang up the shield, Anthony Mackie is waiting right there to take it up, just like in the current comics. What could be more of a progressive move than seeing a black Captain America up on the screen? It's a statement that couldn't matter more considering how tenuous race relations are in the States right now. It's powerful and meaningful without feeling exploitative. Should it actually happen, expect a fair share of detractors - the same people who complained about a black Human Torch, most likely - but it'd be worth the heat. There's an entire generation of kids out there who would be so inspired to see an African American Captain America, and that is no small thing.