Avenger Anthony Mackie has his sights set on another iconic character aside from Captain America, with the Marvel actor hoping for a role in any upcoming Thundercats live-action adaptation. Speaking with Men’s Journal, Mackie declared his love for the 1980s animated series, stating that he has planted his flag in the role of Panthro, the gruff, noble, nunchuck-wielding warrior.
After first saying that, in another life, he would have loved to play The Incredible Hulk, Mackie proclaimed his passion for the Thundercats before saying that, as far as he’s concerned, the role of Panthro is his and his alone.
“But now, if I could play another superhero, it would be Panthro from ThunderCats—the blue dude. Yeah, I’m big on ThunderCats—that’s my one superhero. If they ever make that movie and I’m not him, I’m shutting that sh-t down.”
First aired way back in 1985, ThunderCats is a science fiction story that follows a group of cat-like humanoid aliens from the planet Thundera. When the dying planet meets its end, the group, known as the ThunderCats, is forced to flee its homeland, and end up on Third Earth, eventually battling all manner of mutants, monsters and the evil overlord, Mumm-Ra. The series has become a staple of many a childhood and has since spawned several reboot attempts in the form of 2011’s short-lived ThunderCats and the more recent ThunderCats Roar.
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A live-action Thundercats movie is something that the Hollywood machine has been trying to churn out for some time. Currently, Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard is working on just that, with the filmmaker teasing his intention for the movie to bring the 80s cartoon series to life. “I don’t want ThunderCats to be only accessible to kids. I do want this to feel like when you watch it, you’re watching the actual ’80s cartoon series brought to life, it’s going to be an adventure movie,” the filmmaker said last year.
Anthony Mackie Has Declared His Love for Panthro Before
Marvel Studios
This is not the first time that Anthony Mackie has declared his love for the Thundercats and for Panthro. “I pre-existed the whole Pokemon, anime [craze]. I wasn’t into comic books, any of that stuff. So I was a big ThunderCats fan,” Mackie said during an appearance at Fan Expo New Orleans back in January. “My goal, when they make the ThunderCats movie, is that I want to be the blue dude. What’s his name? Panthro! That’s what I want to be when I grow up. If Kelsey Grammer can be Beast, I want to be Panthro. Both of us can be blue.”
For now, Mackie is busy with the MCU, with the actor due to lead his own Captain America adventure in Captain America: New World Order. Directed by Julius Onah, Captain America: New World Order will explore how becoming the Star-Spangled Man has affected Sam Wilson.
Starring Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, and Tim Blake Nelson alongside Anthony Mackie, Captain America: New World Order is scheduled to be released on May 3, 2024.
