With Captain America: Brave New World, the fourth solo installment of the Captain America films in the MCU franchise hits theaters. The biggest change: Captain America is no longer played by Chris Evans but by Anthony Mackie, aka Sam Wilson, who was handed the shield in Avengers: Endgame.
Since Sam Wilson’s “promotion” left the Falcon position vacant, the Disney+ original series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier introduced Joaquin Torres, who now fights alongside Sam Wilson and sees himself as the new Falcon. Ahead of the film’s release on February 13, 2025, we had the opportunity to speak with actor Danny Ramirez, who plays Joaquin Torres. He talked about his favorite films in the franchise, his role as Joaquin Torres, and his expectations for future projects. But first, check out the trailer for a first impression of the film:
If you haven’t had the chance to get to know Joaquin Torres in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Danny Ramirez himself explains how he sees the new Falcon:
Joaquin Torres is a young, chaotic bundle of energy who gets to live his dream of being his hero’s partner in crime. Joaquin is someone who looked up to Sam Wilson even before meeting him. Deep down, he’s just someone living his dream every single day.
New Falcon Suit: Why Danny Ramirez Trained in the Dark
In the comics, Joaquin was introduced just ten years ago and appears alongside Sam Wilson. The biggest difference between the comics and the film: the design of the Falcon suit. In the final film, the new Falcon suit has a military-practical look, whereas in the comics, Joaquin fully embodies the name “Falcon”—after an experiment, he becomes a hybrid of man and bird with real wings on his arms.
While preparing for the role, Danny Ramirez didn’t know what his final costume would look like, so he underwent an intense training regimen. We asked him whether he felt relief or disappointment when he finally saw the military-style suit:
“Well, the thing is: I was ready to be the man-bird hybrid. In the months leading up to it, I had no idea what the costume would look like. And it’s always changing, so I thought, you never know. Let me make sure that, just in case they decide to ‘open up the chest,’ I look better in the role.”
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Beyond the incredible attention to detail from the costume team, Danny Ramirez was impressed by the suit’s functionality. Aesthetics and practicality were blended together. However, there was one small downside for him: unfortunately, the final film doesn’t include a shot of his abs.
“I can’t say I was disappointed—except that I was in the best physical shape of my life and never got the chance to show it in that one shot.”
“Of course, it would be a dream”: Future Projects, Favorite Roles, and Fun on Set
As the 35th MCU film, Captain America: Brave New World ushers in a new era. With Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as the new Captain America, we see the second Cap in the leading role. But it’s not just Sam Wilson who’s known for cracking jokes—actor Anthony Mackie himself knows how to make people laugh. Danny Ramirez, too, has a comedic side, as he told us:
“Anthony Mackie is a huge crowd favorite. He can tell a story for 10 minutes straight, and he’ll have you laughing the whole time because he knows exactly when to hit you with the punchline. I’m more of a guerrilla comedian—I go up to people. I pick the moments when they least expect it and then drop a joke. Like when I see Julius Onah (director of Brave New World) looking stressed, I’ll say something totally ridiculous, and he’ll just go, ‘What?’—and then start laughing.”
That leaves the question of which favorite projects Danny Ramirez has and in which future MCU films we might see him again. His top three favorites also rank among the most beloved films among fans:
“Captain America: Brave New World” is number one, but if not that, I’d immediately go with ‘Iron Man.’ I think RDJ just oozes charisma. That was one of those moments when I realized this is how you establish a franchise. That’s it. He’s someone you just can’t take your eyes off because he makes you laugh at any moment. Then I’d pick ‘Endgame’ and ‘Winter Soldier.’ That’s a solid choice.”
Regarding potential future appearances in films like Avengers: Secret Wars, Ramirez couldn’t—or wouldn’t—reveal any details, which is common for MCU actors due to strict confidentiality. However, he hinted that he would love to continue being part of the MCU.
“Of course, it would be a dream to continue in this family. Who can say? I didn’t even read the script for ‘Brave New World’ until shortly before filming. I don’t know, and I wish I could tell you—but even if I could, I wouldn’t.”
This interview highlights that Danny Ramirez is not only passionate about his role but also deeply appreciates the creative team and the Marvel universe. While it remains uncertain if and how he will appear in upcoming MCU films, his enthusiasm suggests that fans can expect more from him in the future. For now, all MCU fans should see for themselves—Captain America: Brave New World is now playing in theaters.
