Anthony Mackie is on his way to becoming a star. The Hurt Locker actor, who recently appeared in Real Steel, Man on Ledge and Gangster Squad, will next be seen in Michael Bay's Pain & Gain, and will take to the sky as Sam Wilson, a.k.a. The Falcon, in Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Mackie talked to Blackfilm about his upcoming role in the modern-day sequel, which pits Captain America (Chris Evans) against his unfrozen, brainwashed World War II pal Bucky (Sebastian Stan), now known as the Winter Soldier.

"I’m happy to say that I’m in a good deal of the movie and I play an integral part with Captain America taking down the Winter Soldier," he said. "It’s great. They started the shoot 2 1/2 weeks ago and once I finished doing press for Pain & Gain, I go in and join them. I’ve been doing combat training and fitness training just to get prepared. It’s going to be something and I’m excited for it."

Mackie explained that he hadn't heard of Falcon before receiving the script, but enjoyed what he read. "I’m really excited," he said. "He’s a cool character and we need that. We want that (black) superhero that looks like them."

Speaking of looks, Mackie referred to the recent costume reveal of that character that came from a Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Two preview. "They just released pictures of the costume last week," Mackie said. "It’s more of a military-style tactical costume. He’s more along the lines of Captain America as far as being a superhero as opposed to a true superhero."

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Captain America: The Winter Soldier also stars Toby Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Scarlett Johansson, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo, Max Hernandez and Robert Redford. The film opens April 4, 2014.