Captain America: Brave New World star Anthony Mackie on the real reason behind Harrison Ford’s ripped pants

Anthony Mackie revealed the new title for Captain America: Brave New Order with an Instagram post last month, but that wasn’t the most interesting part of the post. The photo featured Anthony Mackie in costume talking to Harrison Ford behind the scenes, but fans were quick to note that Ford’s pants were ripped, seemingly confirming that his character will transform into Red Hulk.

This little detail likely wasn’t meant to escape through Marvel’s notoriously tight security, but Anthony Mackie told ComicBook.com the real reason behind Harrison Ford’s ripped pants. “See, Harrison [Ford] and I go way back. A lot of people don’t know this,” Mackie said. “This is our second time working together. He came down to Atlanta, they lost his luggage, so I gave him a pair of pants, but those are my work pants from working in the yard. Harrison, he’s a curmudgeon, so he goes, ‘Anthony, just give me the damned pants.’ And I was like, ‘Alright.’ So that’s all that was. He just needed some pants.” Sounds 100% legit. Here’s the photo in question for your viewing pleasure.

There have been rumblings of a Red Hulk appearance for some time now, and perhaps we’ll finally get to see him… unless Harrison Ford’s ripped pants really are Anthony Mackie’s work pants…

After taking on the mantle of Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie is finally leading his own Marvel movie with Captain America: Brave New World. Stepping into the shoes of Captain America is no small thing, and Mackie is all too aware of the pressure. “There’s a huge amount of pressure,” Mackie said. “You throw my dumb ass in the water, and you’re like, ‘Swim.’ I’m like, ‘Sh*t.’ But at the same time, it’s all in the state of mind. I’ve been given a great cast. I’ve been given a great group of people who I’ve worked with before.”

Harrison Ford plays Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross in Captain America: Brave New World, stepping in to replace William Hurt after the actor’s death last year. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed that Ross is the president of the United States in the movie. “This is certainly a big part for Thaddeus Ross,” Kevin Feige said. “He’s the president of the United States in the film. And with Harrison, you think about Air Force One, and you think about some of his confrontations with the president in Clear and Present Danger. There’s a dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson. They have a history together, but in this film, we’ll be seeing the dynamic between Captain America and the president of the United States in a way that is just incredible.“

Captain America: Brave New World will hit theaters on July 26, 2024.