While there are some people who don’t give a great deal of credence to the skill level and talent necessary to become a successful action hero in Hollywood, the truth is that those who have held the throne as the leading action hero have also been well respected actors considered to have remarkable range. As far back as Clint Eastwood and John Wayne did in the 60s and 70s, and Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger did in the 80s, the top action man has also been able to land other roles. Today, guys like Will Smith and Matt Damon aren’t just action stars. They’re featured in numerous genres.
Some would argue that Will Smith currently holds the throne as the king of the action hero actors; however, there are some pushing for some fresh blood at the top, and one person who is vying for the top spot is actorAnthony Mackie. Mackie is another actor who does well in action movies, but has proven himself to have great range – possessing the ability to play multiple roles in a number of different types of settings.
With all this being said, it would be impossible not to notice the star appeal of Mackie as an Avenger. And while the avenger is a long way from Mackie’s Broadway roots, he has proven that the cameras love him, and he has star appeal. As the Hawk in the latest DC visitation of its comic book heroes, Mackie has taken ownership of his character, and his training for the fight scenes in these movies has positioned him to be ready to take on new roles as an action hero.
Although it is certain that Will Smith is not ready to relinquish the title of King, Mackie is definitely ready to take the seat. No one is arguing that Mackie has the appeal of Smith, or Damon for that matter, but he definitely has appeal. With Smith and Damon both rapidly approaching fifty, there has to be a concern about how much longer they will be willing to allow their bodies to undergo the strain associated with shooting high-impact action movies.
There are some that would argue that both Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington are still experiencing a high level of success with the action flicks that they have released in recent years, but the truth is that those roles are more fitting for a younger man. The idea of a 60-year-old man being able to perform some of the feats being presented in modern action movies is a far reach.
Mackie has the youth, the appeal and the capacity to take over the throne. When it comes to assuming the throne, it is about more than just taking the seat, it is about delivering time and time again, in ways that will cement a legacy and give aspiring actors that follow something to aim for.
There is no doubt that Mackie has put in the work in movies like Hurt Locker, Man on a Ledge, Pain & Gain and more. Not only is Mackie ready, he is willing to take on the challenge of ushering in the next generation of action heroes.
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