Captain America: Brave New World lead Anthony Mackie recently opened up about rumors surrounding the reshoots and creative overhaul of the film. The name of the movie was changed from Captain America: New World Order to Captain America: Brave New World. Wrestler Seth Rollins’ role in the film was cut entirely. Some reports indicated the film’s budget had ballooned to $350 million, though this was later debunked, as the film’s actual budget is around $180 million.

These mumblings of behind-the-scenes drama, Mackie insisted that the reshoots are no cause for alarm. Speaking with Esquire, the actor explained: “Every movie that Marvel has made, every movie that DC has made—Star Wars, Star Trek, Disney—has done reshoots.” Rather, Mackie maintains that Captain America: Brave New World holds its own compared to the previous Captain America films: “It’s literally the best movie it can be. It stays in the lines of Marvel. It stays in the lines of Captain America, and it’s fun, and it’s big.”

What Anthony Mackie’s Reshoots Explanation Means For Captain America: Brave New World

Mackie’s comments regarding the Captain America: Brave New World reshoots imply that the reports of behind-the-scenes drama could be inaccurate. After all, the previously rumored budget turned out to be inaccurate. Notably, the actor has been very clear throughout the film’s press cycle that there was no cause for fan concern. Mackie previously addressed the reshoots in an interview last year:

“It wasn’t retooled at all. Every Marvel movie I’ve done has done reshoots, so it’s not retooling or remaking. You basically get the movie and the story you want, you edit it together, then go back and shoot a few more scenes.”

In the same interview, producer Nate Moore also explained that the reshoots were not emblematic of creative struggles or the cause of the name change. He explained: “I think ‘New World Order’ was a тιтle we thought was really interesting, and sort of moody and scary. And to be quite honest, some of the feedback we got, internally and externally, was that that phrase has, unfortunately, been co-opted in the real world in a way that made people uncomfortable. We never try to tell stories that feel ripped from the headlines.“

Our Take On Anthony Mackie’s Captain America: Brave New World Reshoots Explanation

As a result, it is fair to ᴀssume the reshoots were likely a routine occurrence and not a sign of creative troubles behind the scenes, aside from recasting Rollins. Captain America: Brave New World’s тιтle change was also less a creative decision and more one born out of sensitivity to its negative implications.

In all likelihood, there probably were creative changes made in the reshoots, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the film will have issues upon release. Moore echoed Mackie’s sentiments regarding Captain America: Brave New World’s story: “The best we can do is try and anchor our stories in a world that feels real.” If those behind the next MCU outing believe in it, the film might just be a huge hit. After all, Mackie has long been a fan-favorite, and seeing him lead a Captain America film will be a treat for long-term audiences.