“Captain America” star Anthony Mackie has purchased 20 acres in New Orleans East to build a movie studio.
Louisiana was one of the first states to introduce a financial incentives program for filmmakers more than two decades ago.
The negotiation for the land took months and Mackie closed on the purchase Friday, March 11, WBRZ reports. Mackie’s agent told the news outlet that it was “premature” to discuss specifics about the studio. He did share that Mackie intends to site his new production company, East Studios LLC, at the location. The Hollywood actor is looking to purchase more land.
“Years ago, we talked about us being Hollywood South. I think maybe we’re finally in a position to make it happen and for New Orleans East to be the foundation for that to happen,” said Councilman Oliver Thomas, per Black Enterprise.
Mackie is a New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) graduate but is best known for his role as Marvel’s Falcon—the first Black superhero in mainstream comic books.
“This is the moment where he becomes Captain America, so what’s his Captain America going to stand for?” Mackie told Variety. “Because he was a soldier, he was a caretaker of soldiers, a counselor, he’s not the guy who’s going to bust his way through problems.”
“The humanitarian side of him was something that I feel is his superpower, his ability to have empathy and sympathy for those around him is your superpower,” Mackie continued. “So that monologue was about him showing that if one of us is mistreated, we’re all to blame. And that’s the overall theme of the the new Captain America, not that not Black Cap, or Cap for the people, he’s Captain America for all.”
Mackie starred in dozens of other Hollywood flicks, including “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Notorious,” “Eagle Eye,” and “The Hurt Locker.”
Tyler Perry is reportedly also looking to purchase land to build a studio in the state.
