Transcript

Anthony Mackie | SmartLess

From SmartLess · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 1 h · 12,304 words · 296 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Anthony Mackie | SmartLess", an episode of SmartLess published July 21, 2025 (1 h, about 12,304 words). It mentions 76 people, works and ideas, including London, Budapest, New Orleans, Up Against the Wind, Iron Man.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 10:00: London, Amy Lynn Bradley, Claustrophobia, Director's Cut
  2. – 20:00: Budapest, New Orleans, London, Pilates
  3. – 30:00: New Orleans, Up Against the Wind, 8 Mile, Eminem
  4. – 40:00: 8 Mile, Cleveland, Eminem, Joe Russo
  5. – 50:00: Iron Man, Sam Wilson, Black Panther, Anthony Russo
  6. – 1:00:00: Budapest, Peacock, Peacock, London

Notable quotes from "Anthony Mackie | SmartLess"

  • You know what though? Being in London.
    about London · at
  • Or Venice. Well, that's a tight That's a tight second.
    about Venice · at
  • No, I'm in Budapest right now. And I'll tell you what, a black van in Budapest for the summer is godamn it's like I found my people. I don't know.
    about Budapest · at
  • You look like you have one of those pelatons. You know what? You look like you do. Pilates is what it is.
    about Pilates · at
  • Leone was there all the time which was amazing. but it's it all started in New Orleans. I mean I went to this school called New Orleans Center for Creative Arts which is pretty much like fame but in New Orleans. And.
    about New Orleans · at
  • But what really helped me was when I was in school we wrote this play about Tupac called Up Against the Wind.
    about Up Against the Wind · at
  • Like Marvel I loved the movies. I'd always wanted to be in the movies since the first Iron Man. I'm like I'm I'm down. I didn't know what the movie was. I just thought cuz I…
    about Iron Man · at
  • Role? I'm of course it's Black Panther. But then when I got the script, I realized it was Sam Wilson.
    about Sam Wilson · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Eminem — Person · 2 mentions · first at
    That's that's so by the way, it's so funny in the movie like a Eminem has that you know rap at the end of the movie where he's like you went to private school and all that [ __…
  • JK Rowling — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Wait. But you know that like you walk around London and you're Wow, I get why JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. Like it's so it's so magical.
  • Amy Lynn Bradley — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Bradley and I are coming and Chappie.
  • Jamie Dornan — Person · 1 mention · first at
    It's eight episodes. It's me and Jamie Dornan. So they're this is our second time working together. I'm it's we're And Ki, who directed Falcon Winter Soldier, is directing.
  • Jim Nicola — Person · 1 mention · first at
    So when we did this the show, Jim Nicola from New York Theater Workshop came to see the show and was I want to move this off Broadway.
  • Matt Finn — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Eight when we were doing Up Against the Wind, there was this amazing cast and director named Molly Finn, God rest her soul, and she was in New York. She came to see the play and Curtis Hansen was putting together 8 Mile.
  • Sam Rockwell — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Did theater was 2016 with Chris Walkin and one of the most amazing human beings on earth, Sam Rockwell and Zoe Kazan called Beanding in Spokane.
  • Zoe Kazan — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Walkin and one of the most amazing human beings on earth, Sam Rockwell and Zoe Kazan called Beanding in Spokane.
  • Nate Moore — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Out by the poolow, you know? We order lunch and they're just like [ __ ] cooking and Nate Moore and I were like the only two black dudes in the whole hotel. Like it was some LA Beverly Hill [ __ ] Everybody has their shades on.
  • Joe Russo — Person · 1 mention · first at
    So, Joe Russo, he's the talker, you know. Yeah.
  • Anthony Russo — Person · 1 mention · first at
    But then you let your eyes then you let your eyes drift over to Anthony Russo and you're Well, hang on a second. This guy has not stopped staring at me. Hasn't said a [ __ ] word.
  • Kevin Feige — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Time they have to do Black Panther like you know called them, email them, text them. I write letters to Kevin Feige [ __ ] you Black Panther. Right. And right, right.
  • Stan Lee — Person · 1 mention · first at
    And the background about Sam Wilson, I realized the importance of him in the MCU, like what Stan Lee intended for him to be and what he created him for was really amazing and…
  • Michael Grant Terry — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Smartless is 100% organic and artisally handcrafted by Michael Grant, Terry, Rob Armcharve, and Bennett Barbco.
  • Anthony Mackie — Person · 1 mention
  • Chris Evans — Person · 1 mention
  • Chris Walken — Person · 1 mention
  • Curtis Hanson — Person · 1 mention
  • Jason Bateman — Person · 1 mention
  • John Ki — Person · 1 mention
  • Laura Linney — Person · 1 mention
  • Patti LuPone — Person · 1 mention
  • Sean Hayes — Person · 1 mention
  • Will Arnett — Person · 1 mention

Books & papers

  • Up Against the Wind — Book · 3 mentions · first at
  • Iron Man — Book · 3 mentions · first at
  • 8 Mile — Book · 2 mentions · first at
    And she was in New York. She came to see the play and Curtis Hansen was putting together 8 Mile.
  • Black Panther — Book · 2 mentions · first at
    Approaching them. I had my team approach them a long time before about the idea of playing Black Panther. Like growing up, Black Panther was one of my favorite comic books because my oldest brother read all the comic books.
  • Harry Potter — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Wait. But you know that like you walk around London and you're Wow, I get why JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. Like it's so it's so magical.
  • The Banker — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Time, well, my second time on Apple cuz I did the first movie on Apple, actually, The Banker, and this is my first time back. So they've been great, man. It's been wonderful.…
  • LA Confidential — Book · 1 mention · first at
    So, she came to see the play. I get to audition for Curtis Hansen. And I was always a huge fan of Curtis from LA Confidential, from all the he did. And my audition like it was…
  • Wonder Boys — Book · 1 mention · first at
    Like love him to death. And I asked him, I said, so at that was right when like a year after Wonder Boys had came out.
  • Luke Cage — Book · 1 mention · first at
    So I always that was like Luke Cage and Black Panther were my two favorite comic icons along with Superman and but they were my two favorite black dudes and we had always gone after and.
  • Captain America: The First Avenger — Book · 1 mention · first at
    So Captain America, the first Avenger, and all the Iron Man and Captain America movies will get you to Endgame.
  • Avengers: Endgame — Book · 1 mention
  • Behanding in Spokane — Book · 1 mention
  • Falcon and the Winter Soldier — Book · 1 mention
  • The Hurt Locker — Book · 1 mention

Companies & orgs

  • Peacock — Company · 2 mentions · first at
    Yeah. On Peacocks. That's end of July. Season two comes out on that which is a huge hit for Peacock. You're So that's coming out. You're promoting that. second season. Super…
  • New Orleans Center for Creative Arts — Company · 1 mention · first at
    It's it all started in New Orleans. I mean I went to this school called New Orleans Center for Creative Arts which is pretty much like fame but in New Orleans. And I just loved it. Like it was amazing.
  • North Carolina School of the Arts — Company · 1 mention · first at
    New York, I mean New Orleans. So I went to boarding school in North Carolina at North Carolina School of the Arts and I consider that to be my year of time. Like everybody's been arrested. My year of jail time was at in Winston Salem.
  • Disney — Company · 1 mention · first at
    Which was weird because that's when you know all the [ __ ] changed. Like that's when you know Disney bought Marvel and Disney Plus became a thing. And after Endgame was when…
  • Guthrie Theater — Company · 1 mention
  • Juilliard School — Company · 1 mention
  • Marvel Studios — Company · 1 mention
  • New York Theatre Workshop — Company · 1 mention
  • Penumbra Theatre — Company · 1 mention
  • Sony — Company · 1 mention

Products & tech

Concepts & topics

Places & events

  • London — Place · 8 mentions · first at
  • Budapest — Place · 6 mentions · first at
  • New Orleans — Place · 6 mentions · first at
  • Venice — Place · 2 mentions · first at
  • Cleveland — Place · 2 mentions · first at
    Two brothers from Cleveland, but with the great Italian heritage.
  • Westminster Abbey — Place · 1 mention · first at
    No, the By the way, I'm looking out my window at Westminster Abbey. Can you believe that? Isn't that Got yourself a nice place there, huh? Am I going to Am I Oh, yeah. Can you show me my room? Listen, I'm about to live with.
  • Istanbul — Place · 1 mention · first at
    You were going to be excited that you were going to stay with Shane. It's no Istanbul, but it'll do.
  • Hungary — Place · 1 mention · first at
    You shoot stuff in Hungary. Back and forth.
  • Winston Salem — Place · 1 mention · first at
    I consider that to be my year of time. Like everybody's been arrested. My year of jail time was at in Winston Salem.
  • Atlanta — Place · 1 mention · first at
    I got on a plane to go to Cleveland cuz we shot that in Cleveland, mostly in Cleveland, some stuff in Atlanta, but we I didn't have anything. I was just like Marvel I loved the…

Sponsors

  • Peacock — Sponsor · 2 mentions · first at
    Yeah. On Peacocks. That's end of July. Season two comes out on that which is a huge hit for Peacock. You're So that's coming out. You're promoting that. second season. Super…
  • Disney+ — Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    Which was weird because that's when you know all the [ __ ] changed. Like that's when you know Disney bought Marvel and Disney Plus became a thing. And after Endgame was when…
  • Apple — Sponsor · 1 mention
  • Marvel Studios — Sponsor · 1 mention
  • Tesla — Sponsor · 1 mention

Full transcript with timestamps

Well, here we are. It's Will. I've uh Sean and Jason aren't here yet, but I just want to say don't be naughty on this all new Smart List. Smart glass. Smart bless.

You know what though? Being in London. Thank you. That's where I'm at. Thanks everybody.

Oh, Sean's got material. No, I don't. I just So, listener, let's catch you up. Sean is in London doing um another run of Good Night Oscar. What a production. Thank you for bringing it back.

Thank you for Europe is much more convenient for me and my travels. Good night London.

Good night London. No, the Oscar. No, the the um By the way, I'm looking out my window at Westminster Abbey. Can you believe that? Isn't that Got yourself a nice place there, huh? Am I going to Am I Oh, yeah. Can you show me my room? Listen, I'm about to live with Sean.

Go stay with those guys, huh? Yeah. Yeah. Remember how you used to do that when you would travel with Sean and and go to all these wonderful places around the planet? Well, I get to do one now.

You know, it's so funny. When I when I heard that, I actually thought about your your sort of crappy little voice being sad about that and then how that you were going to be excited that you were going to stay with

Shane. It's no Istanbul, but it'll do. No, it's better. Or Venice. Or Venice. Or Venice. Well, that's a tight That's a tight second.

Both of them. But Shaunie, it's going well so far. Are you remembering to look right when you step off the curb?

Isn't that wild? I really am trying to get And by the way, you know the other thing? When you're walking on a sidewalk, I have to go to the left, right? You're going to pass somebody.

Yeah, because they're they're they're they're hoping you do that. Are they? I'm telling you. No.

Yeah, they're I'm telling you because I lean to the right and they're like and then they lean to the right and then I lean to the right. They keep going to the right.

You've been leaning right for years, though. I think you and Will are going to jump parties on me soon.

Um, wait. But you know that like you walk around London and you're like, "Wow, I get why JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. Like it's so it's so magical. Like it's incredible here."

I do love that place. It's incredible. And people that live here that I talk to, they're like,

"Just kidding. What's that? Just kidding. Rolling. Is that what? Just kidding. Rolling. JK.

Will, you've been to Eur You've been to England, right? You do you like Europe? Do you like England? London in particular? Here he comes.

Don't try to bait me. Don't try to It was a classic bait, man. Don't try to do it. I'm not going to do it.

Willie, why don't you come out? Why don't you come out? Why don't you just move there? I don't know why you got yourself.

I am going to come out. Sean, I made a plan this morning. We're going to come see your play in August. So, I'm not going to uh We're going to go over the dates. I'm coming. Bradley and I are coming and Chappie.

No way. That's so nice. Well, you're By the way, you can you guys doing some tons.

No, we're doing re-shoots. Yeah, we're do we have tons of room, Will. You can stay with us if you want.

Fantastic. Yeah, it's unbelievably beautiful. Well, that that that I'm very excited for. But I hear you got there and it was in kind of shabby shape. You had to bring in a uh deep clean company.

Yeah. When we got to this place that we got No, no, no, no. Um, not deep clean, but you know, it has an elevator cuz it's an old townhouse. Oh, boy.

And of course, the elevator broke down. No. While you were in it again? No, I wasn't in it this time. But I keep a a bottle of Valium in it. You know what? Can I just say something?

It might be user error at this point. Can I just say this is user error. I think it's your fault or Scotty's fault. Yeah,

this is important to say at this juncture and it which is because we just in the times we live in and I think that for you to be able to speak so openly and so bravely and so relatably about the shabby shape of the elevator in your townhouse in London.

Yeah, this is the second dwelling you've been in with an elevator. I've never been in a place with an elevator.

Oh, but this Yeah, I'm renting. I don't own it, but um it's it's it's really beautiful. But it's um you know, so I keep a bottle of Valium in the corner in case it goes, but I did my exposure.

You don't need a full bottle. Why don't you just keep one in your pocket? Keep a bottle of volume in the elevator.

In the elevator in case it shuts down and I have to wait for the repair guy and I don't go crazy so I'm just I need you know

why don't you just put a gun in there? Put a gun in there and then just deep into your [ __ ]

Wait a second. First of all, your [ __ ] therapist needs to be arrested because this is this is that's absurd.

No, I'm telling you because if it if something goes wrong and you're stuck in there for an hour while the guy gets there, I don't want to go crazy. I just want to like chill out. Well, that ship has passed.

Well, why don't you look within, man? I did. So, I did exposure therapy and it and it's kind of working.

What? You just get on the tube and just flash your jacket open? Yeah. Yeah, it's really working.

Um, what does that mean, exposure therapy? So, so it's really fascinating. You like, um, you know, you sit there with your palms up and your eyes closed. You have to repeat over and over a million times. You have to go, I'm walking down the hall. I see a small elevator and I step inside. I'm walking down the hall. I see a small elevator. I step inside. And you say that over and over and over again like you know for like 20 minutes and your therapist will check in every 2 minutes and say where's your anxiety level? And it goes from 10 to 8 to 7 you know to 3 to 2 to 1 until you become bored with it. Then you move on to I'm walking down the hall. I step into an elevator and then the doors close. I'm walking down the hall. I step in the elevator and the doors close. And you try to feel what that feels like over and over again. And it [ __ ] works.

Yeah. And what are they charging you an hour for this? Um, I don't remember. Because I used to do this in elementary school when I would screw up. They'd make me write stuff on a chalkboard over and over and over again

like Homer Simpson. Yeah. It's called sentences or whatever the Hey, you know what? You know what else works, Sean? Is uh nutting up.

Yeah. It's just called developing the backbone and the thicker skin and just getting older, you know?

I mean, you've been through a lot in your life and you are tough. I I I mean it like you know how to deal with a lot of stuff and you got your head on your shoulders like

Yeah, but it's claustrophobia. I mean, if you got stuck in that elevator that I had second, you would you would have gone [ __ ] bananas.

Will, what's your plan today? Will, what's your planet out there in the Hamptons?

Uh my plan is pretty it's it's a little overcast and ready. I was already I was up super early uh going over stuff with uh with our friend uh BC and uh

going over stuff. Yeah. The the the edit. He's working on the edit, right? How's stuff looking?

It's looking pretty good. So, we're doing that this morning early. I was up like 5 cuz he's in Europe. And then, uh, aren't you close to getting a cut that you like?

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know, it's a work in progress. He's, you know, working away.

Has he shown you his director's cut yet? There is. No, there's no director's cut yet. No. No.

Okay. But, um, and then, uh, you know, did my usual. Are you happy with your performance that you've seen?

I am. Yeah. I mean, I don't know. It's hard. No, I'm happy with watching his performance. It's pretty,

but I mean it's it's something like you're starting to see yourself and in its context with the one scene stuck next to another scene next to another scene. Like it's that's like it's a scary thing. Like uh how's it's starting to feel good?

I I I think I think that we have a movie. Uh I'll say that like and and you've been doing it a lot longer than I have, JB. You know how it is and so you never know until you know and so I'm just kind of leaving it out there in software. Are you allowing it to become something different than what you had imagined it was going to be?

Yeah, inevitably it is. It always, as you know, it always I'm excited for you to see it. Uh, for both of you to see it. Sean's in it as well. And Sean Sean's great.

So, he's still in it. You're saying it? Still in it? Yeah. As of this morning and

and I and I but I'm excited for you guys to to get your hear your thoughts on stuff, too. So, so we'll have that that'll that'll be forthcoming. But what else are you excited about? Um, our guest today. Well, I'm excited about our guest today. I know. Well, I was about to. I was just answering the question. Sean, are you in a rush?

Yeah. He's got a He's got a a dinner. When did Are you I'm sorry. Are your knickers in a twist over?

Are you keeping Are you keeping the palace waiting? By the way, we're so lucky. We're so lucky because now we do get we get to get to our guest, which is going to be just he's a he's a pallet cleanser in every way. This guy is so he's done everything and he's one of those guys who uh classically trained, Giuliard trained,

and then so he's done everything from Broadway to like indies to like, you know, cool plays to like the biggest of biggest of biggest of hits.

Uh he's like just a bonafide movie star. Uh, I've had the pleasure of getting to know him a little bit over the last couple years because we've worked together uh on a project uh uh uh uh together, me in a producing role, but him as the star of He's incredible. Uh you guys know him from all his performances. The second I start to name it, Sean's going to go, I know who it is. He's been in a gazillion Marvel movies and within the Marvel verse he then graduated and became a sort of a different character alto together. You know him as Captain America. I know him as Anthony Mackey.

Oh, Anthony Mackey. Good morning. Thank you. I have so much to say about those first 10 minutes.

I was like I wanted to see which one of y'all was going to talk about who had the most Teslas in their driveway. Debbie, that'd be Jason. Debbie Jason. I've never owned one. Jason get it away from my wife, but she won't.

Anthony, by the way, you should know that Jason's glass house is is so the glass is so fragile up. He's in his guest house overlooking his screenhouse, overlooking his main house right now. Okay. Anyway, uh Anthony Mackey, dude, thank you. Thank you for being here. Welcome uh to Smart List. It's so great to

So nice to meet you. No, thanks for having me, man. I appreciate it. It's uh it's been a long time coming.

Yeah, it's been a long time coming. Where where do we find you? Are you at home?

Uh no, I'm in Budapest right now. And I'll tell you what, a black van in Budapest for the summer is I mean, godamn it's like

I found I found my people. I don't know. I don't know. It's like they shot me out of a rocket and landed me. It's like I did something right in my life. You know what I mean? They're like, "You get to go to Budapest for the summer." You know,

what do you mean? What do you mean they just love you there? Well, everybody loves you everywhere.

Uh, no, it's it's different here. Like, everybody's nice. Like, the food is good. The city's beautiful and historic, you know? There's a a dirty river. Like, just everything you want, you know? Every day is sunny. The the Budapestians are [ __ ] great people. I love

And there's a lot of stuff that's shooting there lately, huh? Like, um, what what what are you doing there? Can you say? Uh, I'm doing a show for Apple. Uh, so nobody will see it. Called, uh, 12 122

1212 12. Gotcha. Apple bus. Apple's huge. People will see it. Formula Formula 1. Like, it's this F1 thing. It's making a lot of money.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Apple's great. It's uh I'm excited. I It's my first time, well, my second time on Apple cuz I did the first movie on Apple, actually, The Banker, and uh this is my first time back. So they've been great, man. It's been wonderful. It's, you know, they gave me the opportunity to come to Budapest for the summer.

Amazing. And so how is it? Is it a bunch of episodes? So you're there for a while?

It's eight episodes. It's me and Jamie Dornan. So they're uh this is our second time working together. I'm like, you know, it's um we're And Ki, who directed uh Falcon Winter Soldier, is directing it. Oh, cool.

Uh so it's a pretty good it's a pretty pretty good group. Great uh scripts, like great stories, you know. It's just it's a good time. And it's it's in Budapest for the

It sounds like it's big. It sounds like it's there's a lot of lot of action. You know who you're talking to.

Yeah. Okay. You're not the only one. I mean, it's huge, buddy. We're doing well here.

No, I mean, it's action and it's stunts and it's it's uh it's a muscular project. Yes.

It's a lot of testosterone. Some might call it toxic, but I don't get ballsy. Ballsy. So, how long are you there? If you're doing eight episodes, you're there for five months. Five months between here and London and it is like London when I come to London uh in two weeks I'm coming to your show too.

Yeah. Yeah. I'll be there. I'll be there. Should I wear like my like Liza Minnelli [ __ ] like

Yeah, because I'm gay. Yeah, for sure. Works too. We're not going to be open in two weeks. You come back in July.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's two weeks is in July. Oh, well end of July. July 31st. Basically, August. So, you go back and forth. You guys shoot stuff in England. You shoot stuff in Hungary. Back and forth.

No, I'm shooting Avengers in England, and I'm shooting this in. Wait a second. So, you're going back and forth to London. You're doing Avengers. Sean, hold your question.

Sean is a massive massive Avengers Marvel. Uh do and and you're working with you have the misfortune of working with Downey. Uh, I'm sure over there with Robert,

what a drink. Hey, he he serves up a great lunch, man. I mean, everybody's healthy, you know. It's it's really good. We drink his uh his his bottled chill brew.

It's a good time. It's a good time. It's a good time. So, Anthony, what with all this time away from home, what what's what's the main thing you find yourself missing? Uh, I I asked because it's it's it's on my mind. And I just had my daughter call me from she's she's on a trip to actually also to Europe on some sort of camp thing and she's feeling really homesick. But so what do you what what are you missing most about home right now?

Yeah. Uh I hate to say this cuz it fits in y'all's conversation earlier, but I miss my cars, man.

Yeah. Um I miss driving when I'm away from home. I just want to I'm I'm a very very like homerucking dude. So literally I'll go after going to the gym I'll get a poboy and a ice cold beer sit in the garage and work on my cars all day.

Wait, so after the gym you find a real fatty carbohydrate ridden snack and some puffy making beer?

Sorry, Jason's one of those guys who doesn't eat pizza by the way. But I came out with a big fat face. I got to like spend every minute of every day.

That's the whole point of going to the gym, man. You go to the gym and you're like, then you go get a b boy.

Exactly. I exercise so that I can be a little bit bad. I don't exercise. You look You look great, man. You look like

I love you. You look like you have one of those pelatons. You know what? You look like you do. Pilates is what it is.

How dare you. Um, so you miss driving. You miss your cars. Uh, where's home? LA.

You do have like a Pilates, not your body, but your temperament and like the way that you are in the world, you seem like a Pilates person. I tell you what, I'm I am hearing that that's what I need to uh make a friend with is Pilates.

Pilates. Yeah. But yeah, so it's it's got all the stretching of yoga, but it's got some some core strengthening like muscle building stuff. Anyway, I

heard it gives you outstanding sexual stamina. Wait, what? He doesn't need that.

That's what I heard, dude. I heard a friend of mine started doing a little bump in that as well. Thank you. like just maybe another 20 30 seconds would be incredible.

Wait, Anthony, speaking of relationships, I love this segment. I'm just waiting for you to get to your first [ __ ] question. I'm like, all my clothes are off. Go ahead.

Wait. I love it. I love it, JB. I'm telling you, I love it. I'm having fun. It's fun.

Do you notice that, Sean? He'll he brings on a guest and he just sits back. He like basically introduces them and then he's like, "Okay,

not at all. We're h we were having we're having a conversation. We're having a conversation." And you were

You've covered a lot of [ __ ] This is going really well. I have Yeah, this is going very well. How dare you? Oh, sorry. Okay, Anthony, just to make Sean just to make JB feel better. Anthony, how'd you get your start in show business? which I really do want.

By the way, JB, you will be you will be jealous. Let's talk a little bit for a second because I and Anthony, I've asked you about this in person, too. Like I you went to Giuliard, which is so rad. It's like the gold standard. I mean, that must have been talk a little bit about like getting into Giuliard and and was it like a d was it a dream come true or were you like, "Yeah, big deal."

Did you ever cross paths with Laura Lenny there? I think she's she's a big wig over there.

I never saw uh Laura Lenny. She was never there when I was there. Patty Leone was there all the time which was amazing. Um but

it's um it all started in New Orleans. I mean I went to this school called New Orleans Center for Creative Arts which is pretty much like fame but in New Orleans. And um

I I just loved it. Like it was amazing. It it taught me everything. And I got to New Orleans is a very segregated city. So getting to meet and see people from the other side of the city was mindblowing how different it was, you know, on the other side of the track. So it uh forced me to want to get out of New York, I mean New Orleans. So I went to boarding school in North Carolina um at North Carolina School of the Arts and uh I consider that to be my year of time. Like everybody's been arrested. My year of jail time was at in Winston Salem.

Oh, really? Why? Why? Why? Wow. Have you ever been to Winston Salem? No. No. Winston Salem in 1996 was some [ __ ] You hear me?

Really? Really? So I made it out. I did my bid. I got out. You know what I mean?

And um the man couldn't hold me down forever. So I um moved up to New York and you know auditioned and got into Giuliard from North Carolina.

Wow. And um moved to New York when I was 18. And uh it was crazy. Wait, so Anthony, so you start you so you grow up in New Orleans. You were born born and raised there.

Yeah, born and raised. Yeah. Small, Boscoville, Hardhead. And so then your first real exposure to, as you say, the other side of the tracks was going to this this really cool art school where you you got to see some some some folks that are from a different socioeconomic background and they're coming to see some of the productions and stuff like that. And you the the seed gets planted to be an artist, an actor. Yeah. and and and and and you say, "Okay, I'm not bad at this. You're getting some nice accolades."

Um, no. Such that you think you can take on more? Not at all. It was just it was something I I I was uh probably the worst actor at my school, but really

I uh it kept my interest, you know, like yeah, you know, the idea of being in a room with different types of people and doing different types of [ __ ] It was almost like every day was summer camp. Like I look forward to going there every day cuz you would go there half day and then regular school half a day.

And it was just like a bunch of people in a room that I I like identify with, people that I got along with. And you know, it was a school that was half dancers. So we had all these smoking chicks in a dance program. So I was like, "Fuck." Like I just showed my I have a 16-year-old son. I showed him my yearbook from high school and he was like, "Yo, those are the girls."

And I'm like, "This is what girls looked like when I was in school. [ __ ] you." Like, you got it good.

And we will be right back. And now back to the show. Was it a common thing for for the folks where you where you grew up to like go into the arts, become an actor, go to this art school?

Not become an actor. I mean, in New Orleans, you know, every little boy grows up wanting to be a trumpet player. You know, it's everybody wants to be a musician. Everybody wants to march in a parade.

But were your were your parents musicians or in the arts at all? No. Hell no. Uh my daddy worked. My

my daddy was a roofer, you know, so it was six of us. He had to he had to work. So [ __ ] roofing in New Orleans, too. That is not

My mom was a homemaker and my dad was a roofer. So it um but they always stressed on us education and going to school. Uh so it was very important to them that um we did something that fulfilled our our dreams and kept us interested.

But also probably they had their eye on practicality too. It sounds like they they they were not uh afraid of good good hard work and some some pleasant predictability about income and uh and providing. Were they sort of uh you sure you want to pursue acting or or the arts is something that like how how about how about getting like a quote unquote real job? Um was there pressure for you to do that as well?

No, not at all. My parents my dad had one rule. Do whatever you want. Be the best at it. Just don't go to jail. Oh, that's cool.

That was it. Like, you could be your damn garbage, man. Just be the best garbage man and don't go to jail. That's it. Like, growing up in New Orleans in the 80s and 90s, it was such a rough city.

It was, I mean, it was the murder capital of the world. I mean, there were in a city of, you know, 700,000 people, you know, 4 to 500 people were getting murdered a year.

Jesus. So, for Square Capitol, we were literally the murder capital of the world.

Wow. I didn't know that. So, yeah, it was it was wildly dangerous in the in the early '9s.

Did you have do you have brothers and sisters or were you an only child? Five of them. Yeah.

Wow. Yeah. And uh we you know, we're all vastly different and very different. Anybody else go into the arts?

No. No, no, no, no, no. My brother, you know, was a a a singer, but he also played tennis, so all that shit's weird. You know what I mean?

So, so, so I mean, that's amazing. So you go and then you go to you go to North Carolina then you go up you get into Giuliard and you go to Jiuliard and I always wonder this so you graduate Giuliard you've got a degree from arguably like the premier place to get an acting degree certainly in the states and and is it like okay you know the day after you you uh graduate is it like everybody's knocking at your door or is it just hit the streets and start auditioning like everybody else? Uh well, you do this thing uh called league scenes and you invite all the agents and all the agencies to come see the uh graduating class do their monologues a showcase. Yeah. And everybody comes and from that hopefully you'll get an agent or a manager.

Uh and I got lucky. Um I did these you know three scenes and they were fine. You know it was cool. Um but what really helped me was when I was in school um we wrote this play about Tupac called Up Against the Wind.

Yes. And um you know I we all did it like you know there was a girl Rosemary in a directing program, Michael and a writing program and all of us actors, we all wrote and produced the scene oursel I mean the the show ourselves at school. So when we did this the show, Jim Nicola from New York Theater Workshop came to see the show and was like, I want to move this off Broadway.

So it was a big problem at Giuliard because you're not allowed to do outside work while you're a student.

Okay. And it came but it was a gray area because you guys had started it at school. started it at the school

and you know it become it was it was very eye opening because there was a fight between me and the staff if

I would do this play off Broadway which was created at the school or if I would do the check off play for my final grade of the year.

Mhm. Right. M so we were going back and forth about that and they were very adamant about not letting me do this play and then the play caught fire and took off and all of a sudden everybody was a supporter like there was a teacher who was interviewed by the New York Times and true story this is still in print. She said, "You know, usually the black kids just sit around and wait to see who's going to play off fellow, but it's great that they created something that they can go and do in uh in the New York theater."

Whoa. What? What does that even mean? Like what? It means she was a [ __ ] idiot.

I know. Like what? That's like crazy. What? It means she was a [ __ ] idiot. Wow. That's what it means.

Wow. That must have lit a fire under your like a little bit to be like like [ __ ] I'm going to Yeah. Like

Yeah. And that was my biggest thing like coming out of that school. It was it was really eye opening for many different reasons because I went to go see a play like every two weeks and I saw so much bad theater but I saw so much good theater,

you know, and so much small theater and innovative and courageous theater and uh it really just formed and shaped me. what I saw really formed and shaped me more than what I learned in school.

Yeah. And now what you find yourself, sorry, Sean, you find you find yourself at a a place of great success um with tons of momentum and future is wide open. Did you allow yourself to see yourself at this place at this age or are you kind of like, you know, it's a tough question to answer, but are you are you where you thought you would be? Are you are you are you o overperforming underperforming? You you've got to be happy. You got to be content.

You know, this is a weird business. And you know, psychologically, it's a huge mind [ __ ] to be a part of this business because

I never thought I would be here. Like I I never when I got into this business, I didn't say, "Oh, I want to be famous or I want to be a movie star." I literally dreamed about being a working a actor. I wanted to, you know, work at the Guthrie. I wanted to work at Penumbra, you know, I wanted

that's why you've had longevity and and that was the focus of my career, like how can I do these great roles, you know, I, you know, these these great American theater roles in great theaters around the country, you know, and it just it just so happened, you know, because it sounds like such an [ __ ] story. So, when we were doing eight when we were doing uh Up Against the Wind, uh there was this amazing cast and director named Molly Finn, God rest her soul,

and she was in New York. She came to see the play and Curtis Hansen was putting together 8 Mile.

Right. That's right. So, she came to see the play. I get to audition for Curtis Hansen. And I was always a huge fan of Curtis uh from LA Confidential, from all the he did. And um my audition like it was just funny. I always had a a belief if you get people to directing you and working with you, that's because they're interested in you. If you audition and they go, "Good job, kid. Thanks for coming in." Then nine times out of 10, you ain't getting that job. So I walk in and I meet Curtis, sit down. Curtis was a cool cat.

Like love him to death. And I asked him, I said, "Uh, so at that that was right when like a year after Wonder Boys had came out."

And I said, "Curtis, uh, I I have a question for you before we start." He's like, "Yeah, sure. Go ahead." So I was like, "Uh, Wonder Boys." I'm like, "Was that meant to be an ode to Alfred Hitchcock or were you like directing it in a sense towards the ideals and teachings of Hitchcock and the way he worked?" So he goes, "Whoa, what are you talking about? What do you mean?" So I explained to him what I saw in the movie and you know what he did with Tobey Maguire and the the backdrops in the scene and the escal escalating visual aspect that tied into the mental uh frustration of the character and we talked for like an hour

about Wonderboys. I never read uh never did my audition. So I come out and I'm like [ __ ]

like oops I blew my time you know. So I'm like don't do that again. Don't do that again. So 3 weeks later, uh he called and he was like, "Yo, uh cast somebody else in the role that you came in for, but there's another role. Uh it's only 4 days. If you are if I don't want to offend you, I know you're a trained actor, but if you're willing to do it, you know, I'd love to have you in Detroit." So I'm like, "Hell yeah. It's Curtis Hansen."

Yeah. So fly to Detroit uh and just sit with Curtis Hansen and eat dinner and like kick it for like two weeks. And the role only was four seasons.

Yeah. Right. And he was like, "Uh, you have anything booked after this?" I said, "No." He was like, "Well, so if I extend your role, you can stay." I'm like, "Fuck yeah, I can stay. Ain't going nowhere." So they extended my contract to a run of pitcher and uh we developed that role over the course of

That's really cool. And that's kind of how That's amazing. It started. That's amazing.

That's so cool. You guys kind of built it off of personal like just like a dialogue that you were having with him about like a shared interest. Like that's that's so by the way,

it's so funny in the movie like a uh Eminem has that you know rap at the end of the movie where he's like you went to private school and all that [ __ ] If you go back like he's we had a conversation a week before and we're talking [ __ ] and you know Em is just a amazing dude and a lovely human being. Uh once you spend time with him uh it's just funny but he's always learning and hearing and listening like he's like a [ __ ] sponge. So, we get to set uh the next day and he's like, "Yo, there's no reason why I don't like this dude."

Like, yeah, we beefing, but nobody knows about our backstory and our history, so we need to put that in the script. So, Curtis was like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You right. You right." So, comes the battle scene, right? And I write my rhyme. I'm like "Boom boom boom boom boom boom, boom." Right? We go to set and [ __ ] Eminem starts his rap and he's like, "You went to private school." I was like, I did go to private school. He's like, your parents have a real good marriage. I'm like, my parents do have a real you, [ __ ] You talking about me, [ __ ]

That's cool. That's cool. Wow. Now, wait a second. Wait. So, was was 8 Mile your first movie?

That was my very first movie. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. That's pretty cool. 2001, man. That was my first movie.

Nice start. That was my first job. Isn't that crazy? I mean, it was my first massive movie. I know.

Yeah. Yeah. I did I did up Against the Wind off Broadway and then went into uh uh 8 Mile.

Have you been back to theater yet? Um yeah, I did. Well, the last time I did theater was 2016 with uh Chris Walkin and uh uh one of the most amazing human beings on earth, Sam Rockwell and Zoe Kazan called um uh Beanding in Spokane.

Oh yeah. So, and I'll tell you what, if you haven't worked with Chris Walk, just save up some money, produce a a play, and [ __ ] do a play with Chris Walk. That [ __ ] is amazing. Like, that was that was the pinnacle of being able to do theater to see him on stage every night.

I bet I bet that's really cool. What a cool experience. You know, a lot of people say, you know, what acting is the study of human behavior and there's human psychology and stuff like that and you've done so many un so many different roles and so many played so many different people. Do you find yourself uh outside of work kind of getting people's heads or analyzing people's behavior or analyzing the human behavior outside of a role? Like I find myself doing that probably to a fault sometimes because I'm like, "Oh, that person acts like that because of a you know what I mean? Do you do that?"

Well, no. That that's a very interesting perspective and great question because I do that all the time. But in this generation like people are so like thwarted with their own insecurities that you can't really ask questions about why they do something or how they think because they instantly go on the defensive because they haven't even thought about why they do the things they do and why they why they think the way they do.

Yeah. They don't think that deep. Yeah. And my thing is as an actor, it it's it's really interesting to me to try and understand people and the knowledge and the aspect of what happened on the course of your day to make you act or reacted the way you did just now,

right? You know, I love that. And you just ask questions like why why why do you think that way? Or what made you think that? And it's like no, you're just being an [ __ ] and you know.

Yeah. Because because I'll I'll drive I'll drive Scotty, my husband, crazy. all I constantly ask him every day, "How are you? What are you doing? What are you thinking about? What's going on? You all right?" Like I'm trying to get in there cuz he's like, "Yeah, get out of my face. I'm fine. I'm fine." You know, like and you're you're a digger. And and he's just like, "Just let me be quiet."

Yeah. Like there's nothing wrong. And is he really grouchy? Does he seem really grouchy?

No. I just want to know. But he goes, "If you keep asking me, that's when I'm going to get upset."

Exactly. You know what I mean? Great match. He sounds like a great match for me. You ever get tired of Scotty? You send him over to me. We'll be quiet quiet in the car together.

We'll be so quiet. Just sit over there. But I didn't know Anthony if if if you're like that Anthony where anything like me where like if if it's a relationship whether it's a friend or a co-orker or a romantic relationship or whatever it is are I I just sometimes overanalyze people to death and they're just like okay stop talking. Yeah, I tried to and I just ask questions and give them space to breathe

uh and just see what comes out of that, you know, but for some reason people take that as you being an [ __ ] and they get upset with you because you try and understand them and they've never tried to understand themselves,

you know, and the more I understand you, the easier and better this relationship will work out. Like I was having a conversation the other day and um my boy was like, you know, you need to come to LA and go to the parties and meet these directors so people can see you. And I'm like, yo, after 25 years, if I got to go to a party at like so and so's house for you to want to work with me, then [ __ ] you dude.

You know what I mean? We've been in this game long enough to where like you know the people that like are doing it in the way they doing it.

You know what I mean? Now all of a sudden I got to come to parties and do blow off of Jason's dick for Leave that up to me. But it was a short line though, wasn't it?

Jason, stop putting blow on your dick. Well, it's much I can't really fit a line on there. It's just little upgrades.

Yeah. By the way, you'll hear funny. I texted this to JB twi twice this week in the same day. Two people came up to me and go like, "Hey, I know your buddy Jason. I used to party with him back in the day. I used to live in Venice and this other guy. I worked with him on a thing." And I texted JB and JB goes, "Yeah, I put a lot of people into rehab.

Bye." They spent a week with they spent a week with Jason in 1995 and they were screwed. Wait, so you do Sean brought up I mean you've done I mean you've just done countless movies and you've done so many different kinds of characters. I know so many and and you off Broadway you obviously we mentioned Julliard and you did all this stuff and then and you you were in Hurt Locker like you've been in all these like you know celebrated films and then you get asked to become part of the MCU.

Yeah. And what was what was that process? the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tracy,

she knows that. That's one we don't need to explain. I don't know. Is Tracy a big Marvel fan? Doesn't strike me.

Sean's sister. Sorry. She really likes romcoms, right? Yeah. So, Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here we go.

Here we go. What What was that called like? What was that conversation? And were you like were you like yes or were you like h

was the first one was to to Will's question was the first one Winter Soldier. Was that the first one? That was

Yeah, because I saw you in the I saw I love that movie by the way. I love that movie and I love all of them. But I mean like and when I when I saw you was like what the

this guy's incredible like what an unbelievable addition with the [ __ ] I mean it's the character favorite parts you know the wings.

So so wait so wait so how did that how did that roll out? How did that roll out?

Yeah but yeah how did it feel to get the call and like what and oh my god and what was it like? Uh, you know, it came together like a,

you know, it was like a Well, I guess it was a what? Oh my god. And what? Tell us what.

Yeah, because I can't imagine. No, I know. Tell us some more. No, I just can't imagine getting a call like that.

If Sean Sean If Sean If Sean's If Scotty knew Sean was about to get the call, he'd put a diaper on him first.

Like a little baby chimp about to get his first taste of ice cream. [ __ ] what? Running around this townhouse with no elevator. Just doing zooies. Zooies on the floor.

The elevator with a belly full of sand. Elevator and a b and a and a diaper full of

No, but that must have been a cool that must have been a pretty cool day. Like, hey, you want to come and join the [ __ ] biggest thing in the cinematic world?

Really funny. No, it was it was a it was a really cool call to get. Um, you know, but the problem was

but it wasn't check off at the Lincoln at Lincoln Center. So, it was like you had you had to think, okay, can I can can I can I can I bear this and still pursue that, right? Like there's a there's a strategic career gross sort of conversation you have to have with yourself and your team perhaps at times when you get opportunity, right?

But that script was phenomenal, I'm sure. Like it's not like, you know what I mean? Well, but that's the problem with Marvel. You don't know. You don't get to read the script. You don't get to know anything.

Like, I had a meeting with the Russo brothers and um these guys, they're wonderful.

Two brothers from Cleveland, but with the great Italian heritage. These two guys, this poor is really getting development. Okay. Anyway, We'll be right back. And back to the show.

So, the Russos call. We know Joe and Anthony real well. JB and I do. And so, they call you and they're like,

"Just say yes or no. Sight unseen." Like, pretty much we meet. It was such It was like the most LA [ __ ] I've ever experienced. We go to this hotel and it's like all like art stucco and a swimming pool in the middle and it's like all these ladies, these old ladies with like their lobster titties laying out by the poolow, you know? We order lunch and they're just like [ __ ] cooking and Nate Moore and I were like the only two black dudes in the whole hotel. Like it was some LA Beverly Hill [ __ ] Everybody has their shades on.

Sure. So, you know, uh Joe Russo, he's the talker, you know. Yeah. So Joe goes, "Look, Anthony, we have a script. We have an idea. You know, we we have a character and we'd like you to play it. Uh

Mhm." And I was like, "Yeah." Like, "Can I read it?" He went, "No." "Can I know the character?" "No."

Wow. So I didn't know who I was playing. No way. Literally. So what made you want Yeah. What made you want to say Yeah.

Joe's magnetism? Yeah, because I knew being in the MCU would like do for my career the same thing, you know,

being nominated for an Oscar, you know, because at the end of the day, if you go up to and I always do this with my friends, at the end of the day, if you go up to the average person and ask them who won best actor last year,

they don't know. They don't know. Nobody knows. Yeah. Not even the average person. Ask any of us who won best actor last year.

Who won best actor? I have no idea. Adrian, I can't tell you what. Go up to the average person and ask them who average person our age. Ask them who, you know, who was who played Rocky or, you know, who did this or they'll always have those iconic characters and moments in their mind as opposed to an award push for you to get a statue.

Sure. Right. Right. So, Right. So, Right. So, so in that respect, it's a no it's a no-brainer. It's like, like I said, it's like, "Hey, we're we're we're running the biggest deal in the game right now. Do you want to jump on this train? We're we're going this way." And you're like, "I kind of want to go that way."

Hell yeah. But then you let your eyes then you let your eyes drift over to Anthony Russo and you're like, "Well, hang on a second. This this guy has not stopped staring at me. Hasn't said a [ __ ] word."

Not a word. He just stares at you the whole time. And I want to know what the deal is. Ant is going to be a to stone cold psycho with you right while while Joe's talking

eating a sandwich. He's trying to distract you with the shiny penny over here. Don't look at my brother.

I always find it fun when Joe takes the time out from playing like uh fantasy football to actually have a conversation with you. That part's fun.

Stop looking at his phone to actually look at you and talk to you for one second. I'm You feel like the most special person. He's like the talented Mr. Ripley. He's like, "So, how's it going?" you know, it's fine.

So, so what happens? So, then at what stage of the of that of of of that whole thing do you get do you finally kind of get keyed in on who your character is, like what his name is, what he is, uh where he lives, and then actually reading a script, etc., etc. Like, how far down the road is that? right before I got on a plane to go to uh Cleveland cuz we shot that in uh Cleveland, mostly in Cleveland, some stuff in Atlanta, but we uh I didn't have anything. I was just like Marvel uh I loved the movies. Um I'd always wanted to be in the movies since the first Iron Man. I'm like I'm I'm down. I didn't know what the movie was. I just thought cuz I had been approaching them. I had had my team approach them a long time before about the idea of playing Black Panther. Like growing up, Black Panther was one of my favorite uh comic books because my oldest brother read all the comic books.

Uh, so I always that was like Luke Cage and Black Panther were my two favorite comic icons along with Superman and but they were my two favorite black dudes and um we had always gone after and circled the idea of at some point in time they have to do Black Panther like you know called them, email them, text them. I I write letters to Kevin Feige [ __ ] you Black Panther. Right. And um

right, right. So I thought when they hit me up, they were like, you know, would you play this role? I'm like, of course it's Black Panther. But then when I when I got the script, I realized it was Sam Wilson. And once I started reading the history and the background about Sam Wilson, I realized the importance of him in the MCU, like what uh Stan Lee intended uh for him to be and what he created him for was really amazing and really profound and really spoke to the idea of the perspective of the black American in America at that time. So it was u you know being him being a part of the uh the airborne was was was strategic. You know him being uh ex-military was strategic. Him being a hustler from Harlem was strategic. All of those things were put in there to socialize and emulate what black culture was at that time in America. So So as black culture evolved, so did Sam Wilson in the MCU.

So you do that. So you get there, you and you appreciate that and you start getting into that and then you you eventually and you make

I don't know how many movies you're like you were in uh obviously uh seven now this is this will be my my 10th and 10th and 11th

10th I mean how about hey Russos hey how about just an just a a brief cameo I know Jason and I know them when they were they were just They directed the pilot of the rest of the You want to call us? Not even a test.

These are two of the oldest. We've known we've known Joe and Anthony about as long as anybody in town, right?

Jason, who knows those guys longer in town than us? Anthony is the end. Do not text Joe. That text will be lost.

Unbelievable. Just a couple of nice seats for a premiere would be great. Yeah, that even just a discount at Regal Cinemas would, you know, I take that at this point. You know what I mean? But uh so you do so this is your ninth and 10th or 10th and 11th. And then when was it that you made the transit when when you became Captain America? That's a that's a pretty that sort of mantle was handed handed over. When was that? That was um at the end of uh Endgame, which was weird because that's when you know all the [ __ ] changed. Like that's when you know Disney bought Marvel and Disney Plus became a thing. And after Endgame was when everything turned into this idea of Marvel and Marvel streaming and Marvel TV and all these different entities under the Disney umbrella. So because of that um which I was very happy about because you could put so much in a eight part series as opposed to a hour and 45minute movie. Um the uh

Falcon Winter Soldier show was more so about the idea of Sam Wilson becoming Captain America and leaving all the other [ __ ] behind. So that's what I did after

Endgame cuz nobody knew like on Endgame I didn't know I was going to [ __ ] be Captain America. Nobody knew that [ __ ] Like I found that out the day we were on set.

I didn't know about that. I thought that that Sunday we were at Chris's house playing uh watching football and I found out at Chris's house that Monday morning we were shooting a scene where I became Captain America cuz he had got those pages Wednesday.

Oh my god. You guys don't even get a script when you when you start a project. Wow. No, you get a script, but as soon as you get the script, you put it down and every day you get pages.

Yeah. Yeah. And then they're like, "Hey, you better read these pages cuz we're about to change the trae trajectory of your character, your life, your career." Like, right? Like just

Well, so like is there is there like a group of like super dorks that are sitting around a table and figuring out how all of these different characters intertwine? And like is there like

I mean, that's what you want to know. Look at the mirror, Sean. a one-year plan, 5year plan, 10ear plan for how all these characters slowly get closer to one another and cross-pollinate and like where's the where's the think tank on all this stuff? I wonder

that's the and when does Mickey Mouse come into all of this stuff the you know the idea is the the scope of it all. the the original plan was the the first,

you know, the first cycle, the first 10 movies to have that arc all the way to Endgame and then, you know, all the other phases uh after that, they just build it out phase by phase. So, you have the beginning, the middle, and the end of the phase. And how that how that

I wouldn't even know where to start. I I mean would I start start at Iron Man and like that that would if I just started there I would I' I'd start to get

you do the Iron Man one two and three and then where do you move to? Well, see this is the problem. All right. I don't think you need to watch all the movies. Like I I don't think some of the movies like the Thor movies don't really like translate into the universe,

but there's probably some useful information there that affects other stuff cuz that's Thor's own thing. Like that [ __ ] is so far out. Like it's so different cuz he's a god. Like that [ __ ] When you see Thor come into the MCU, you never see anybody go to his universe.

Right. Right. So Spider-Man wasn't around because Spider-Man was owned by Sony and Spider-Man came into the world on Civil War. So you don't need to watch any 17 incarnations of Spider-Man.

Got it. So the the the movies you really need to watch are the Iron Man movies and the Captain America movies. Those are the ones that give you the

the through line. The through line and that'll get me to Avengers. So Captain America, the first Avenger, and all the Iron Man and Captain America movies will get you to Endgame.

Jamie, I think we need to do you and I need to do an MCU uh film fest in your new theater. And

I would please when are you home? Well, I'm sure one of y'all got a movie theater in your house. Jason does. I'm sure all three of you have movie theaters in your house.

I do not. I do not. Jason does. It's not in his house. It's its own building. Now, listen. So, so, so it it literally has a different address. So,

next question. Um, but but but uh uh so, so you do all that stuff. You do and and now you're and then you're I don't know how you find the time to do all this other stuff. Not to mention the fact that we've got Twisted Metal season two which is premieres end of July July.

This is the thing you're producing Willie. Yeah. Yeah. On on Peacocks. That's end of July. Season two comes out on that which is a huge hit for Peacock. You're So that's coming out. You're promoting that. Uh second season. Super fun. Anyon so good. If you haven't seen it, Anthony is so good in it. It's so funny.

It's a good time. It's a It's a good time. It's It's fun. You're a You're a band member in a hard metal band. Is that

No, no, but not a bad No, Dad. We're just We're just on We're like on the road with you. It's like stuff in the bus and

No, Dad. [ __ ] He's too busy listening to yacht rock to watch our [ __ ] show.

Yeah, totally. No, it's a it's a postpocally based on a video game, man. The video video game Twisted Metal, which was big in the 80s and 90s. Uh 90s and early 2000s. it um it's a a we got the the property and built out this world behind the lead character John Doe and you know it's the post-apocalypse and the world is basically falling apart but you see John Doe and the rest of the characters trying to maneuver through it and figure out how to get inside what is now the real world which are these walled in cities all over the world where society and reality still exist instead of the war zone that's outside the walls

but Anthony you know it's there's you there's so many projects that you're I mean

I know I know it's mindblowing like do you by the way it would be like when you go to the market Anthony do you remember like we would have we would have meetings uh when when we were first

when we were first working on uh Twist of Metal we had a couple like development meetings or something and like I'd be like Anthony where are you and he's like I'm in Saudi Arabia uh I'm on a boat he literally like I'm on a boat in Saudi Arabia and I'm like what are you talking about

all right so then I This this there is like this prompts the obvious question. Let's talk about domestic life.

Do we have do we have a family that that we're trying to to to navigate through all this or are you just uh a rocking single and um you just can take your show on the road?

No. The one thing I realize is being a like I I'm I'm a firm believer that I think like I love to work. Yeah, I feel like me working is is my happiness. You know, I love to stay busy. It's like that's just my joy. And you know, sadly to say that most of the times when you're gone for four and five months at a time, relationships don't really fit into that. And all of my free time and all of my empty brain space goes to my kids. You know, it's like I have

I have a four sons and wow, you know, four little boys, dude. like they are so interesting and different and manipulative and just little [ __ ] at the same time. So it's like it's like you know you have to like every free moment I have is a moment to fall in love with my boys,

you know, so I don't really have space. Are they able to come with you on some of these things?

Well, the the they do they'll come out and visit. But the problem is I have to remember that they have their own lot.

Exactly. You know, like now I'm in Budapest and my boys have worked all school year for 2 and 1/2 months of summer.

Exactly. So, do I say [ __ ] your camps, [ __ ] your friends, [ __ ] your fun. You come to Budapest and sit in this hotel room while I'm at work and I get to see you right before you go to bed.

Yeah, I that would be that I I would hate that, you know. So, it's a you know. Well, what hotel? Which hotel? Depends. The Budapest Hotel.

Yo, my boys, they love a good room service, boy. They [ __ ] chicken wings are the chicken tenders

and craft service. I bet I bet you Marvel puts up a nice craft service on set, too. Good snacks.

Yo, our crafty is crazy, I tell you. And then you can go over to Downy's camp, too, and get a little something extra.

Crazy. But like one day, I snuck over. Well, you go get your fiber in Downy's. Oh, sure. If you're gluten intolerant, you need to step over there.

So when we were when he at the pizza truck, I went up to his security. Security is real cool guy. I was like, "Look, man." I went over to the pizza truck and all them was sitting in there talking. I'm like, "I don't want to sit in there and talk to them [ __ ] I want to make pizza." So I go over with the pizza guys and start making pizza on the truck, right? So I make this dope delicious chef's kiss pizza, right? So I cut a piece off and I go over to Downey Security Guard. I'm like, "Yo, man. Um, here's a slice of pizza. like I know you've had a long day, so I just wanted to introduce myself. We haven't met. My name is Anthony. It's so great to meet you. He's like, "Oh, nice to meet you."

So, two days later, I'm like, I want to sneak in Robert's [ __ ] base camp. And he's like, who the [ __ ] air conditioning yeah?

You got an ID or something? I go in my trailer. I don't have ice. I'm like, I know who has [ __ ] ice, right? So, go over to Robert's base camp. I go to the security guard. I was like, yo, what's up, man? He's like, "Anthony, how's it going?" He's like, "That was a great pizza. Thanks." I was like, "Hey, you mind if I if I go in right quick?" He's like, "No, go right ahead." I stole all this [ __ ] ice.

That's how it works, kid. That's how it works. That's right. It's who you know. It's who you know.

It's who you know. There's no little man on this pole. Uh, well, listen, man. We've taken up too much of your time. You're over there. You're working. You're having a good time. you're probably in your weekend and and we're really nice of you to dude.

Anthony, it's always awesome to talk to you. You're again like you're the busiest dude I know. You're such a super talented dude. So impressive.

And if you haven't seen if you haven't seen Twist of Metal, please see Twist of Metal season 2 on July 31st on Peacock. Uh like I said, Anony's amazing in it. And then your new show coming out next year on Apple which 122122 which is going to be amazing and more Avengers and more all of it. And dude, Anthony,

keep it coming. We love it. Yeah, keep it coming. Continued success, dude. You're you're a great dude.

Thanks a lot, man. Appreciate it. Sean, I'm going to come check you when I get to when I get back to London. I love it. I love it. Thank you.

I feel like you like April Spritz and [ __ ] So, we can have like a spritz or something.

I'll have it. I'll have anything with a spritz in it. It's amazing. Uh yeah, I would love that, Anthony. It'd be great to see you, too. Uh yeah. So, come on down. I would love it. Be so I'd be so honored.

Definitely. We'll do. Great to see you. Awesome. Thank you. Thanks. Thanks a lot, guys.

See you, buddy. Oh, Sean. Hey, Sean. Great job. Great job. I don't know if you know Sean's been working with a tutor, an interview tuner. Tutor.

Yep. Mhm. Thank you. Yeah, this is uh it's subtle, but it's much better. Thank you. I mean, it's I'm billing her three ways, so

how could how could he? He's the only nominated interviewer that we've got. Yeah, but there's always room to improve, he said to me in a text. Were you not on that? Yeah.

No. Uh, how great is Anthony, right? Yeah, he's great. Really? I've I've never never met him. Um, never seen an interview with him. And that was awesome.

He's such a great dude. And uh uh and and he's when you look at his credits, it's so unbelievably impressive. Not just the volume, but all the different kinds of characters he's played.

I'd love to see him on stage, too. I bet he's a beast. Incredible on stage. And and you see that like you see remember he said early on he was like well you know you don't want to you want to come out you want to do too many different things because you don't want people to think you're all over the place. I'm like dude

mission accomplished. Yeah. I mean he did every he's covered every corner. Yeah. I know. And he's got like 17 things coming out soon. Like there was there was one year there was one year I think where he had like eight movies in theaters at the same time.

Are you kidding me? Crazy. Yeah. Oh my god. The promotional work on that must have been a nightmare.

That's the first thing you think. All the stories you've got to come up with. Oh god.

How about this one? Yeah. Yeah. That's the first thing you think of. You have to think of like so like so many different ways on that [ __ ] to say

like what? Good. No. No. Work on it a little bit more. Come back to us. Oh, wow. That was just a straight up Oh, you got another one.

You know what you got to do next time you're trapped in the elevator? Think of some goodbyes.

Yeah. And just put a chalkboard in there. You know what I mean? Is there a new dad joke you've got for us today? We haven't had a dad joke today. I'd really like one.

I did have Did I do the um Did I do the uh what did the pirates say when he turned 80? Did I do that one already? No.

Uhuh. What did the pirate say when he turned 80? Well, what? Hi, Mie. I that really got him.

I just love them so much. But I love them coming out of Sean's face. I know. You know, cuz he's just like I'm I'm half I'm half laughing already when I'm around him. I just put

What did What did the pirate say after they they plundered the other boat? What?

What? Bye. Bye, Mie. Mie. Oh, it's so fun hanging out with you guys. Jesus. Bye gang.

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Questions about this episode

What is discussed in "Anthony Mackie | SmartLess"?

In order: 0:00 London, Amy Lynn Bradley, Claustrophobia, Director's Cut; 10:00 Budapest, New Orleans, London, Pilates; 20:00 New Orleans, Up Against the Wind, 8 Mile, Eminem; 30:00 8 Mile, Cleveland, Eminem, Joe Russo; 40:00 Iron Man, Sam Wilson, Black Panther, Anthony Russo; 50:00 Budapest, Peacock, Peacock, London.

What is mentioned in this SmartLess episode?

76 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including London, Budapest, New Orleans, Up Against the Wind, Iron Man, Sam Wilson. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Anthony Mackie | SmartLess"?

The episode runs 1 h; the transcript is about 12,304 words in 296 timestamped sections.

More from SmartLess

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.