Anthony Mackie’s Sweet Ian McKellen Story From ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Is Winning Over Fans
San Diego Comic-Con 2026 delivered plenty of blockbuster reveals, but sometimes the smallest, most personal anecdotes end up stealing the spotlight. While promoting ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ at the convention, Anthony Mackie reflected on a brief interaction that captured the warmth behind Marvel’s biggest crossover yet. The film has become known for pairing generations of superheroes who have never shared a scene before.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has brought together characters from across the Multiverse Saga, including the cast of ‘The Fantastic Four First Steps,’ alongside a wave of stars from the early 2000s ‘X-Men’ movies. Mackie, 47, took over as Captain America from Chris Evans following 2019’s ‘Avengers Endgame’ before fully stepping into the role in the 2021 series ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.’ Ian McKellen, 87, is returning to the franchise as Magneto for ‘Doomsday.’
Speaking with IMDb on the red carpet, Mackie described the first time he approached McKellen on set. “I go to Ian McKellen, he goes, ‘Hello, son.’ I’m like, ‘Ian McKellen, sir. You’re amazing. It’s amazing to work with you.'” McKellen, it turned out, had no idea which role Mackie was actually playing in the massive ensemble.
Mackie continued the story, recounting how the legendary actor casually asked about his part. “He goes, ‘So what are you doing in the film?’ and I’m like, ‘I’m Captain America.'” The response from McKellen was as warm as fans could have hoped for once he learned the truth.
“And he goes, ‘Wonderful… and you deserve that.'” Mackie added that he simply thanked the veteran actor in return. The exchange has since spread widely online as a feel good moment between two very different eras of Marvel filmmaking.
McKellen’s Magneto joins a returning wave of ‘X-Men’ alumni including Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming and Rebecca Romijn. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to premiere on December 18 and will follow the Avengers as they join forces with the Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. During a separate film festival appearance in Rome, McKellen revealed that directors the Russo Brothers pushed him to “look more furious” while performing Magneto’s powers on set, joking that he shouted a real world reference to channel that anger, a detail first reported by Variety.
Between McKellen’s playful Rome confession and this Comic-Con story with Mackie, the ‘Doomsday’ set is proving to be just as entertaining behind the scenes as the footage teased for the film itself. With so many icons meeting for the first time, it is easy to see why cast members keep sharing these moments. Did Ian McKellen’s “you deserve that” hit you the same way it hit Captain America himself?
