Anthony Mackie picks up the shield at a potentially awkward time. But there’s one way Disney can do right by him and the next generation of Marvel stars.

Brave New World, Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson picks up the big-screen mantle of one of Marvel's oldest and most venerated comic book heroes. So far, audiences have responded: The film earned $192 million globally in its first weekend.

Hollywood’s biggest franchise is at a turning point. In the six years and 11 movies since the all-conquering Avengers: Endgame, few entries in the franchise have felt like a genuine event. It’s partly the arrival of lesser-known new heroes,